Mohsen Rezaei, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, warned that hosting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu “will not end well”, without directly naming the UAE.

In an Arabic-language post on X on Wednesday, September 30, Rezaei wrote: “Just as hosting US military bases has not brought you security, hosting the ‘Butcher of Gaza’ will not end well either.” He also urged his intended audience to “learn lessons” from the recent war and stop making claims over the three islands of Abu Musa, Greater Tunb and Lesser Tunb.

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Netanyahu travelled to the UAE on Sunday at the invitation of UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed. The Emirates News Agency confirmed the visit and meeting a day later, saying the two sides had discussed bilateral relations and regional developments. Reuters, citing Israeli officials, reported that the meeting lasted several hours and that Iran was a key focus of the talks.

Rezaei’s remarks came amid renewed tensions between Tehran and Abu Dhabi over the three disputed islands. In an address to the United Nations General Assembly, the UAE representative again described the islands as part of the country’s territory and called for the dispute to be resolved through direct negotiations or the International Court of Justice. Iran has rejected the claim, describing its sovereignty over the three islands as “non-negotiable”.

Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs had earlier condemned Netanyahu’s visit to the UAE and warned of the consequences of Israel’s presence in the region.