Netanyahu in UAE: Warning of Iranian Attack "Within the Next Few Weeks" and Meeting with Saudi Delegation

As the United Arab Emirates confirmed that its President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed received Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday, several reports emerged regarding the objectives of this visit and other officials he met during his stay in Abu Dhabi.

CNN indicated that Netanyahu conveyed new Israeli intelligence to Bin Zayed suggesting Iran is resuming progress in its nuclear program. This included details about new construction work at the Jabel al-Fas site, located approximately 225 kilometers south of Tehran, which is considered a key location for potential Iranian efforts to rebuild its nuclear program.

An Israeli source told the American network that the meeting focused primarily on Iran, adding that Netanyahu stated during the meeting that the Israeli assessment indicates "the possibility of Iran launching an attack in the region within the next few weeks."

The Associated Press noted that the purpose of Netanyahu's visit to the UAE was to demand that its president deny reports stating he had warned him of an imminent threat from Hamas before the October 7, 2023 attack.

It should be noted that Netanyahu's office denied the AP report, describing it as "fake news."

Meeting with Saudi delegation and other countries
On another note, a report by the Israeli website Yedioth Ahronoth stated that Abu Dhabi witnessed an expanded meeting attended by, alongside Netanyahu and Bin Zayed, officials from eight countries: the United States, Saudi Arabia, Morocco, Egypt, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Libya.

A UAE source told the website that the expanded meeting discussed mechanisms to deepen security and intelligence coordination between Israel and the UAE, as well as building a regional defense structure against "common threats," with a particular focus on Iran and the Houthi group in Yemen.

He added that participants also reviewed intelligence and security aid packages for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and studied the creation of a new regional alliance, noting that delegates discussed the possibility of creating an oil transport corridor bypassing the Strait of Hormuz. None of the governments mentioned in the report issued immediate public statements regarding these talks.

In the same context, CNN had also confirmed that Netanyahu met with a high-ranking Saudi security official, and that the discussions covered recent regional developments, including the Houthi attacks in Yemen, the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, as well as the Strait of Hormuz.