Netanyahu Shared Iran Nuclear Intel with UAE President, Saudi Denies Presence

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu presented UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan with intelligence indicating Iran's renewed efforts to develop nuclear weapons during a recent meeting. The intelligence reportedly focused on construction activities at Iran's underground nuclear site near Qom, approximately 225 kilometers south of Tehran. This meeting, which occurred on a Sunday, saw a significant focus on the Iranian threat, a subject where both Israel and the UAE have deepened their security cooperation.

While the Prime Minister's office and the UAE's official news agency, WAM, confirmed the meeting itself, marking the first public acknowledgment from Abu Dhabi of an Israeli prime minister's visit, reports of a Saudi security official's presence have been strongly denied by Saudi Arabia. A Saudi source told "Arab News" that there was no truth to the reports of a Saudi representative attending the meeting. A senior Saudi official also denied to Reuters that any Saudi-Israeli meeting took place during Netanyahu's visit.

Further complicating the narrative, Jordan also denied reports that one of its representatives participated in the meeting. These denials cast doubt on claims that Netanyahu's visit to Abu Dhabi involved a broader regional forum beyond his official talks with the Emirati president. The discussions also touched upon the Houthi threat in Yemen.