Iran denies striking UAE as it comes under attack with drones and ballistic missiles being fired at Gulf nation for second day in a row – live updates

Iran has tonight denied striking the UAE, adding that any retaliation will be met with a ‘crushing response.’

In a statement carried by Iranian media, a spokesperson for the IRGC said: ‘The armed forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran have not carried out any missile or drone operations against the UAE in the past few days.’

It added that if the UAE decided to take military action, Iran will meet this with a ‘crushing and regretful response.’

The UAE has declared it is responding to a missile threat from Iran as the country’s air defence systems are activated.

In a social media post, authorities said: ‘The UAE’s air defenses are currently dealing with missile and drone attacks originating from Iran.

‘The Ministry of Defense confirms that the sounds heard in scattered areas of the country are the result of the UAE’s air defense systems intercepting ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and drones.

‘UAE Air Defences system are actively engaging with missiles and UAV threats.’

Marco Rubio has claimed that the US is working to reopen the Strait of Hormuz as a ‘favour to the world.’

He said: ‘It’s their ships that are stranded. Not ours.’

The statement comes just a day after the US said two American-flagged ships were escorted out of the Strait of Hormuz by its military.

Rubio says he hopes China will tell Iran that what it is doing in the Strait of Hormuz is causing its global isolation.

A cargo vessel has been struck by an unknown projectile within the Strait of Hormuz, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations agency said on Tuesday, adding that the environmental impact from the incident was unknown.

It said in a statement tonight, following a report received at 7.30pm UK time:

‘UKMTO has received a report of an incident within the Strait of Hormuz. A verified source reported a cargo vessel has been struck by an unknown projectile. Environmental impact is unknown at time of report.

‘Vessels are advised to report any suspicious activity to UKMTO, whilst authorities investigate.’

In pointed barb at Iran’s leaders, Rubio said top officials in Tehran are ‘insane in the brain.’

He said: ‘The time’s come for Iran to make a sensible choice. It’s not easy for them to do that, obviously, because they have a fracture in their own leadership system, and apart from that, I mean, the top people in that government are, to say the least, you know, they’re insane in the brain.’

Marco Rubio has warned that a nuclear-armed Iran could easily hold the Strait of Hormuz hostage.

He said at a White House press briefing: ‘If Iran had a nuclear weapon, they’d close the strait, and they’d tell the world, what are you going to do about it? We have a nuclear weapon. We can attack you with it.

‘That’s the world none of us want to leave behind. It won’t happen under this President’s watch.’

He added that if Iran were to retain control of the Strait of Hormuz, the cost of living across the world would stay high.

Rubio said: ‘If Iran had a nuclear weapon and they decided to close the straits and make our gas prices like $9 a gallon or $8 a gallon, or $8 a gallon, we wouldn’t be able to do anything about it, because they have a nuclear weapon and a nuclear armed Iran could do whatever they held they want with the straits, and there’s nothing anyone will be able to do about it.

‘And that’s one of the many reasons, apart from like the massive loss of life in a nuclear strike, why Iran can never have a nuclear weapon.’

Marco Rubio has declined to say how many countries have offered to assist the US with Project Freedom.

He claimed that ‘a lot of countries’ want to help, but many don’t have the resources to do so, pointedly adding: ‘Unfortunately, [many] do have a navy but are saying: “Oh, we’ll be involved, but we’ll be involved after it’s over”.’

Rubio said: ‘I don’t want to get into who these countries are, for obvious reasons, you know, because they are prepared to help us in certain ways, but maybe don’t want that publicly disclosed for no other reason than it impacts foreign policy. It could have some domestic ramifications.’

Rubio said: ‘Under no circumstances can we ever allow them to normalize the fact that they get to blow up commercial ships and put mines in the water. So the response to that is, we’re going to blockade your ships.

‘That’s not an act of war, that’s a defensive measure – it’s a counter to what they have decided to do. You know what is an act of war? Putting mines in the water.’

Taking questions from reporters, Marco Rubio said that the problems between Israel and Lebanon come from Hezbollah.

He said: ‘Here’s the challenge with Lebanon, okay, there’s no problem between the Lebanese government and the Israeli government… the problem with Israel and Lebanon is not Israel or Lebanon, it’s Hezbollah.

‘Hezbollah operates from inside of Lebanese territory. They terrorise and attack Israelis, but they also are inflicting tremendous damage on the Lebanese people.’

Rubio added: ‘This has been going on for a very long time. It’s not going to be easy. We’re going to do everything we can to make sure that both sides continue to talk, so that progress can be made on some sort of permanent ceasefire that isn’t constantly spoiled by Hezbollah.’

Rubio has denied that his upcoming trip to the Vatican is to heal the growing rift between Donald Trump and Pope Leo.

He said: ‘It’s a trip we had planned from before, and obviously we had some stuff that happened and no, look, there’s a lot to talk about with the Vatican.’

Earlier, Trump accused the Pope of endangering the lives of Catholics by refusing to back his war with Iran.

Rubio has warned Tehran not to ‘test the will’ of the US, claiming that Iran risks isolation, economic collapse and ‘total defeat.’

He said: ‘They really shouldn’t test the will of the United States, at least not under President Donald Trump.

‘The alternative is growing isolation, economic collapse and ultimately, total defeat.’