Reports Claim UAE Transferred Four Iranian Detainees to Israel

Iranian media report that the United Arab Emirates transferred four Iranian citizens who were detained in its territory to Israel. According to the report, published by the Iranian website Tabnak, the transfer took place via Abu Dhabi, sparking sharp criticism in Iran and being described by the site as a severe betrayal by the Emirates.

Tabnak reported, citing a source familiar with the details, that the four Iranians were previously held by UAE authorities and were subsequently selected and transferred to the Zionist regime. The source did not disclose their names, the reasons for their arrest in the Emirates, or the reason they were allegedly transferred to Israel.

The cited source claimed that the Emiratis appear to be committing a serious betrayal against Iran, noting that this is evident in a series of steps taken by Abu Dhabi. The report was subsequently echoed by other Iranian media outlets, including Asr Iran and Didban Iran, though they relied on Tabnak's original publication.

Simultaneously, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei stated that following contacts held by Tehran with Gulf states on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, several Iranian detainees were released from prisons in the Emirates, and thanked Abu Dhabi for their release. Hours later, Tabnak published the claim that four other detainees were not released, but instead handed over to Israel. At this stage, no official confirmation has been provided by the governments of the UAE, Israel, or the Iranian Foreign Ministry.