Updated

The United Arab Emirates issued a nationwide phone alert on Tuesday, August 18, warning of "potential missile threats" and instructing residents to immediately seek shelter in the nearest secure building, according to the interior ministry — the first such warning in months. The UAE defence ministry subsequently said two ballistic missiles had been launched a day earlier at maritime traffic in its territorial waters, and Abu Dhabi publicly attributed the launches to Iran. In response, the UAE announced that all trade, commercial exchanges and financial transactions with Iran have been halted until further notice, saying the decision was taken in light of Iranian regional escalation that "undermines regional and international peace and security." Iran's foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei rejected the accusation as "baseless," denying that the missiles originated from Iranian territory. The rupture is significant given the UAE's long-standing role as a major trading and financial conduit for Iran, and it marks a sharp deterioration in relations between Tehran and a key Gulf neighbour during the ongoing conflict.