TEHRAN/ABU DHABI, March 21 (Xinhua) -- Iran's Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters spokesman Ebrahim Zolfaghari warned on Saturday of possible strikes on the UAE's Ras Al-Khaimah in case of recurrent attacks from its territory against southern Iranian islands.
"As we had announced before and proved in practice, we will attack the origin of any invasion against our territory and national sovereignty," Zolfaghari said.
Ras Al Khaimah is an industrial port city and the largest city and capital of the Emirate of Ras Al Khaimah in the UAE.
"We warn the UAE that in case the country becomes the origin of a repeated invasion against the Iranian islands of Abu Musa and the Greater Tunb in the Persian Gulf, Iran's powerful armed forces will deliver crushing blows to Ras Al-Khaimah," he added.
Also on Saturday, a total of 22 countries, including the United Arab Emirates (UAE), jointly condemned Iranian attacks on regional commercial vessels and civilian infrastructure amid escalating regional tensions.
In a joint statement, the UAE, Britain, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Japan, Canada, the Republic of Korea, New Zealand, Denmark, Latvia, Slovenia, Estonia, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Czechia, Romania, Bahrain, Lithuania, and Australia expressed deep concern over the situation.
The statement warned that the recent developments, including the "de facto closure" of the Strait of Hormuz, pose serious risks to global trade and energy security.
"We call on Iran to cease immediately its threats, laying of mines, drone and missile attacks and other attempts to block the Strait of Hormuz," the statement said, urging compliance with relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions.
Meanwhile, the UAE Ministry of Defense said its air defense systems on Saturday intercepted three ballistic missiles and eight drones launched toward the country from Iran.
Since the start of the attacks, UAE air defenses have dealt with a total of 341 ballistic missiles, 15 cruise missiles and 1,748 drones, according to the ministry.
On Feb. 28, Israel and the United States launched joint attacks on Tehran and several other Iranian cities, killing Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, along with senior military commanders and civilians. Iran responded by launching waves of missile and drone strikes targeting Israel and U.S. bases and assets in the Middle East. ■
