Saudi, UAE leaders condemn 'dangerous' Iran escalation

Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and United Arab Emirates' President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan discussed on Saturday Iran's retaliatory strikes on Gulf countries and expressed solidarity and sympathy in their first call since late December.

The Saudi crown prince called the Emirati president and "they discussed regional developments and the blatant Iranian attacks targeting the UAE and several other brotherly nations", the UAE's official WAM agency said.

The leaders condemned a "dangerous escalation that threatens the region's security and undermines its stability".

The crown prince expressed Saudi Arabia's "full solidarity with the UAE, and offered its resources to support any measures the UAE takes" while the Emirati leader "expressed his gratitude and appreciation".

Meanwhile, the UAE's Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Saturday condemned Iranian missile attacks that targeted the UAE and several other Gulf nations.

In a statement, the ministry affirmed the UAE's solidarity and support for the countries in the region affected by the attacks, emphasizing that their security is indivisible and that any infringement on the sovereignty of any state constitutes a direct threat to the security and stability of the entire region.

The UAE reaffirmed its categorical rejection of the use of the territories of regional states as arenas for settling disputes or expanding the scope of conflict, warning of the grave consequences of continued violations, which undermine regional and international security and threaten global economic stability and energy security.

The UAE reiterated its call for restraint and a recourse to diplomatic solutions and serious dialogue, and highlighted that this remains the most effective path to overcoming the current crisis and safeguarding regional security and stability.

The UAE underscored that it retains its full and legitimate right to respond to the attacks, the statement added.