Iran war: Germany condemns attacks on UAE

What you need to know

• Germany 'strongly condemns' new Iranian attacks on the UAE
• France, UK also join in the condemnation
• Iran's foreign minister criticizes US blockade on Iranian ports: 'Project Freedom is Project Deadlock'

Welcome to DW's coverage of the ingoing conflict in the Middle East on Tuesday, 5 May, 2026. Catch up yesterday's developments here.

Tehran neither confirms nor denies attacks on Emirati oil port and ships

Following reports from the UAE of a missile and drone attack by Iran, Tehran has neither confirmed nor denied the attacks.

Earlier, Iranian state television quoted an anonymous military official as saying that Tehran had "no plan" to target the UAE or one of its oil fields.

"The incident resulted from US military adventurism to create an illegal passage," the official was quoted as saying about the oil facility attack, apparently referring to Trump's latest efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

On Sunday, President Donald Trump announced that the United States would launch an effort on Monday to "guide" ships stranded in the Gulf.

Iran: 'No military solution' to crisis

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said early on Tuesday that there was "no military solution" to the "political crisis" in the Strait of Hormuz, a day after the United Arab Emirates (UAE) said it moved to intercept a barrage of missiles and drones launched by Iran.

Araghchi said that peace talks were "making progress" thanks to the "gracious effort" of Pakistan and that the United States should be "wary of being dragged back into quagmire by ill-wishers."

Criticizing the ongoing US blockade on Iranian ports, he said "Project Freedom is Project Deadlock."

Germany condemns Iran attacks on UAE, urges Tehran to return to negotiations

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has urged Iran's leadership to return to negotiations after Tehran launched missile and drone attacks on the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Monday. 

The UAE Defense Ministry said its air defenses intercepted a total of 12 ballistic missiles, three cruise missiles and four drones in the first Iranian attacks on the Gulf state since a ceasefire began almost four weeks ago.

"Tehran must return to the negotiating table and stop holding the region and the world hostage: The blockade of the Strait of Hormuz must end," Merz wrote on social media. "We strongly condemn these attacks. Our solidarity is with the people of the United Arab Emirates and our partners in the region."

Merz also reiterated his stances that "Tehran must not acquire a nuclear weapon" and that "There must be no further threats or attacks against our partners."

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer also called for deescalation in the Middle East after the attacks. 

"The UK condemns the drone and missile strikes targeting the United Arab Emirates," Starmer said. "The escalation must cease. Iran needs to engage meaningfully in negotiations to ensure the ceasefire in the Middle East endures, and a long-term diplomatic solution is achieved." 

French President Emmanuel Macron said the Iranian strikes against civilian infrastructure in the UAE are "unjustified and unacceptable."

Talks between the United States and Iran, mediated by Pakistan, have so far failed to produce results, leaving a ceasefire agreed on April 8 appearing increasingly fragile.
 

Welcome to our coverage

Good morning and welcome to DW's coverage of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East on Tuesday, 5 May, 2026.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has condemned Iran's latest attacks on the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and called on Tehran to "return to the negotiating table."

Iran's Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, has also insisted that there is "no military solution" to the crisis.

Stay tuned for more throughout the day in this blog.