Iran rejects UAE missile claim as France expels Iranian diplomats

Iran has formally denied the United Arab Emirates' allegation that it fired two ballistic missiles that landed in the Persian Gulf, a charge that has further strained relations between the two neighbours.

Tehran's foreign ministry spokesperson, Esmail Baghaei, criticised Abu Dhabi's accusation, saying such behaviour runs counter to the principle of good neighbourliness and undermines efforts to build trust in the region. The reported incident on Tuesday was the first such attack in weeks, following a period in which the UAE was repeatedly targeted by Iranian projectiles after the outbreak of the US-Israel conflict with Iran in late February.

The UAE responded by announcing a suspension of trade with Iran, citing regional escalations that threaten peace and security. This comes less than a week after Abu Dhabi accused Iran of launching drones at two tankers operated by a state-owned oil company in the Strait of Hormuz.

Meanwhile, Iran's parliament speaker, Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, arrived in Iraq on Wednesday for a three-day visit. He is scheduled to meet Iraqi officials and leaders of an Iran-backed political coalition. During his trip, Qalibaf praised Tehran-backed militias in Iraq, describing them as a key component of the country's national power and an influential force beyond its borders.

In a separate development, France announced it will expel two staff members of the Iranian Embassy in Paris. The move is retaliation for the expulsion of two French diplomatic staff from Iran earlier this week. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot condemned the Iranian authorities for what he called a premeditated and deliberate attack on French personnel, adding that the two Iranian diplomats will leave France in the coming days.

Iran's state-run news agency reported that the French pair had been accused of attending a secret meeting with suspects in a case involving foreign infiltration and interference.