In a grave new escalation, Iran has issued a direct and chilling warning that it will strike port facilities in the United Arab Emirates, declaring them “legitimate military targets” due to the UAE’s role in supporting U.S. operations against Iran.

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) released a strongly worded statement urging civilians and foreign workers in key port areas — including Jebel Ali, Port Rashid, and areas near Abu Dhabi — to evacuate immediately. “Any port or facility used to support American aggression will be treated as a battlefield,” the statement read. “We have precise intelligence and the capability to strike with devastating force.”

Iranian officials claim the UAE has allowed American HIMARS rocket systems and other strike ᴀssets to operate from its territory, directly aiding attacks on Iranian soil, including the recent strikes on Kharg Island. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi reinforced the threat, saying Iran has “a comprehensive plan” ready to neutralize these targets if the UAE does not immediately cease cooperation with Washington.

The warning has triggered panic across the UAE. Major ports handle a mᴀssive portion of global trade and energy shipments, and any successful Iranian strike could paralyze shipping, spike insurance costs, and send oil prices soaring even higher.

This latest threat comes as Operation Epic Fury continues to backfire spectacularly for the United States. The USS Gerald R. Ford and USS Abraham Lincoln have both suffered repeated damage and restricted operations, America has burned through more than $11 billion in munitions in just two weeks, and critical radar systems across the Gulf have been destroyed. Israel remains under heavy Iranian missile pressure.

By openly threatening the UAE’s vital ports, Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei is expanding the war into the economic heart of America’s most important Arab ally. The message is unmistakable: if you host American strikes, you will pay a devastating price.

Is this the beginning of a wider regional economic war? With Iranian forces preparing what they call a “Big Plan,” the glittering ports of Dubai and Abu Dhabi may soon find themselves on the front lines of a conflict that was supposed to end quickly — but is now spiraling dangerously out of control.

The Gulf is holding its breath.