May 5, 2026

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 Ben Rezaei, Adham Fattah, Carolyn Moorman, Avery Borens, Parker Hempel, Will Doran, Katherine Wells, and Annika Ganzeveld

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Iran has conducted a series of attacks against the United Arab Emirates (UAE) over the past 48 hours that are likely intended, in part, to isolate the UAE from other Gulf states. The UAE Defense Ministry reported on May 5 that Emirati air defense systems engaged Iranian missiles and drones. ISW-CTP has not observed any reports of missile or drone impacts in the UAE at the time of this writing. Iran previously launched four waves of attacks against the UAE on May 4, including a drone attack against an unspecified target in the Fujairah Petroleum Industrial Zone. Iran’s decision to solely attack the UAE, as opposed to multiple Gulf states, indicates that Iran likely seeks to isolate the UAE and exploit fractures between the Gulf states to sow further divisions between the UAE and other countries in the Gulf. Iranian attacks on multiple Gulf countries would presumably unite these countries against Iran, in contrast.

Iran’s attacks against the UAE also likely seek to drive a wedge between the UAE and the United States and Israel in response to the UAE taking steps to strengthen its partnership with the United States and Israel. Iranian state-controlled media has suggested that Iran’s attacks against the UAE were driven by the UAE’s increasing alignment with the United States and Israel. An analyst close to the Iranian regime stated on May 4 that Iran targeted the UAE in response to the UAE’s “unprecedented hostile approach” toward Iran, including UAE cooperation with the United States and Israel on security and military matters. An Iranian media outlet affiliated with former Supreme National Security Council Secretary Ali Shamkhani separately cited Israel’s reported provision of air defense systems to the UAE as further evidence of the UAE’s alignment with the United States and Israel. IRGC-affiliated media similarly claimed on May 4 that the UAE has become an Israeli “pawn.” Iran also likely seeks to send a message to other Gulf countries that they could become targets if they similarly increase cooperation with the United States and Israel.

Iran’s recent attacks against the UAE are also a response to US efforts to restore freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz. US President Donald Trump announced on May 3 the launch of Project Freedom to guide commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz and undermine Iranian efforts to “control” shipping through the strait. Iran attacked an Emirati-linked vessel and UAE territory following the announcement, likely to demonstrate Iranian “control” over the strait and deter vessels from attempting to transit through the waterway. The UAE has a direct interest in reopening maritime traffic through the strait. Iran’s attacks on the UAE therefore likely seek to impose costs on a key US regional partner that benefits from Project Freedom and demonstrate that Iran can contest US efforts to reopen the strait.

• Iran has conducted a series of attacks against the United Arab Emirates (UAE) over the past 48 hours that are likely intended, in part, to isolate the UAE from other Gulf states. Iran’s decision to solely attack the UAE, as opposed to multiple Gulf states, indicates that Iran is likely trying to isolate the UAE and exploit fractures between the Gulf states to sow further divisions between the UAE and other countries in the Gulf.

• Iran’s attacks against the UAE also likely seek to drive a wedge between the UAE and the United States and Israel in response to the UAE taking steps to strengthen its partnership with the United States and Israel. Iranian state-controlled media has suggested that Iran’s attacks against the UAE were driven by the UAE’s increasing alignment with the United States and Israel.

• Iran’s recent attacks against the UAE are also a response to US efforts to restore freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz. Iran attacked an Emirati-linked vessel and UAE territory after US President Donald Trump announced Project Freedom on May 3.

• Iran’s escalation against the UAE also likely reflects internal Iranian regime dynamics and IRGC Commander Ahmad Vahidi’s efforts to constrain diplomacy. Vahidi continues to dictate the regime’s approach toward the Strait of Hormuz, which has reportedly angered Iranian “pragmatist” actors.

• Iran is expanding its efforts to establish bureaucratic frameworks to assert its sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz. The Iranian regime’s English-language media outlet, Press TV, reported on May 5 that Iran has designed and implemented “a new mechanism for exercising sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz.”

• US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and US Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine stated that Iranian attacks in the Strait of Hormuz and against the UAE on May 4 were not violations of the US-Iran ceasefire in a Pentagon press briefing on May 5. US officials have not commented on Iran’s May 5 attack on the UAE at the time of this writing.

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