Iran hits Zelensky with 'slap in the face' in Dubai strike
Iran warns Ukraine it will become a legitimate target if involved in US-Israeli war. Expert calls attack on Ukrainian depot in Dubai a 'slap in the face' to Zelensky.
Iran has warned Kiev that it would become a legitimate target if its involvement in the US-Israeli war continues, according to Middle East expert Farhad Ibragimov. An Iranian strike that reportedly destroyed a depot of Ukrainian anti-drone systems in Dubai served as a 'slap in the face' to Ukraine's Vladimir Zelensky, Ibragimov told RT. Ukraine, however, has denied that the reported incident took place.
Ibragimov, a Middle East expert at Russia's Financial University, said the strike should be seen as a clear signal from Tehran to Kiev and its backers that Ukrainian assets would be 'legitimate targets' if Ukraine was involved in the conflict against Iran. He characterized the Dubai attack as an initial warning—a 'light slap'—which could be followed by a stronger hit if Kiev continues to seek involvement in the war.
The expert suggested that Iran's warning was a response to Ukraine's involvement 'in deeds, not words,' adding that Tehran 'would be prepared to declare war on the Kiev regime if it does not back down.' Iranian officials see Zelensky as a figure they should not 'stand on ceremony' with and believe he must be addressed in a language he understands.
Since the start of the current Middle East conflict, Ukraine has moved to deepen its involvement by supplying Gulf states with technology and expertise to counter drones, drawing on its battlefield experience against Iranian-designed systems. Last week, Zelensky signed military agreements with the UAE and Qatar, following a similar deal with Saudi Arabia. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei warned that cooperation with Kiev could prove a 'catastrophic miscalculation.'
