UAE official clarifies Israeli minister did not call for Gulf nations to fund war on Iran

ABU DHABI: A senior United Arab Emirates diplomat has retracted his earlier criticism of Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich after it was clarified that controversial remarks attributed to the minister were inaccurately reported.

The clarification comes amid heightened regional tensions following U.S. airstrikes on three Iranian nuclear sites, intensifying the conflict between Israel and Iran.

Dr. Anwar Gargash, diplomatic adviser to UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, had initially condemned Smotrich for allegedly suggesting that Gulf countries—along with Germany, France, and the UK—should finance Israel’s military campaign against Iran.

“Israeli Finance Minister Smotrich's brazenness reached the point of calling for Gulf (and German, French, and British) funding for Israel's war on Iran,” Gargash wrote in a since-deleted post on X. He described the purported comments as a reflection of “moral bankruptcy on the part of an extremist who does not understand the consequences of escalation.”

However, after further verification, Gargash clarified that the comments were misattributed.

“I have received reliable confirmations, and reviewing the transcript of the interview reveals that what was attributed to the Israeli Finance Minister regarding his call for Gulf states to finance the war on Iran is false and did not come from him. Accordingly, I have deleted the previous tweet,” he stated.

Gargash reaffirmed the UAE’s consistent stance on prioritizing diplomacy in resolving regional conflicts. “We reiterate the UAE's position calling for addressing regional issues with wisdom and reason, and through diplomatic channels,” he said.

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The retraction follows growing concern among Gulf states over the escalation of the Iran-Israel conflict. Gulf leaders have warned that continued escalation could drag the region into deeper instability.

The UAE has reiterated calls for immediate de-escalation and a renewed commitment to dialogue to avoid further deterioration of the regional security environment.

Dr. Gargash also emphasized confidence in the leadership of President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, noting his active engagement with regional and international leaders in pursuit of diplomatic solutions and regional stability.