UAE orders freezing of nine Iranian nationals accounts

Iran: UAE has ordered companies to identify and freeze accounts of nine Iranian Nationals who were placed on its list of entities and individuals it identified as terrorists and terrorist organization, according to News agency WAM.

The directives were issued by UAE Securities and Commodities Authority reported Al-Jazeera.

Following US steps, UAE too placed the nine Iranian individuals on the list for suspected connections with Iran’s elite Revolutionary Guards in May.

The relations between the UAE and Iran worsened due to various regional issues including Iran’s nuclear programme, the Syrian civil war, Yemen war as well as the dispute over lands of Abu Musa and the two Tunbs.

US demands Iran makes changes in its foreign policies or face economic sanctions along with subjecting countries supporting Iran with the same sanctions, a decision widely supported by UAE .

“Uniting (our) efforts is the correct path for Iran to realize the futility of its incursions and expansionism,” UAE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Anwar Gargash wrote on his official Twitter account in May.

“The Pompeo strategy requires wisdom and a change of the Iranian compass,” Gargash added.

Supporting the US in its demand, Abu Dhabi National Oil Company said that it could raise oil production capacity by “hundreds of thousands of barrels per day” to meet shortages if required.

UAE stands as America’s allies with nearly 5,000 US troops in Dubai and also one of the US Navy’s busiest port of call abroad.