China: UAE halts trade with Iran after detecting 2 ballistic missiles, Tehran denies claims.

Shotlist Beijing, China - Aug 19, 2026 1. Screenshot of post by Afra Al Hameli, director of UAE foreign ministry's strategic communications department, on X FILE: Abu Dhabi, UAE - Date Unknown 2. Aerial shots of skyscrapers, cityscape, national flag of UAE 3. National flag of UAE FILE: Abu Dhabi, UAE - July 20, 2018 4. Various of Presidential Palace FILE: Tehran, Iran - Jan 25, 2026 5. Cityscape, national flag of Iran FILE: Tehran, Iran - June 6, 2026 6. Various of national flags of Iran on road lamps, traffic FILE: Tehran, Iran - May 2026 7. Various of traffic, Iranian national flags along roadside FILE: Abu Dhabi, UAE - March, 2021 8. Aerial shots of port facilities, containers, vessels FILE: Abu Dhabi, UAE - April 20, 2019 9. Various of container vessel at Khalifa Port Storyline The United Arab Emirates (UAE) said early Wednesday that it has suspended all trade, commercial exchanges and financial transactions with Iran following the detection of two ballistic missiles launched from Iran, while Tehran rejected such claims. In a statement posted on social media platform X, Afra Al Hameli, director of the UAE foreign ministry's strategic communications department, said the decision came in light of regional escalations that undermine regional and international peace and security. The statement reiterated the UAE's commitment to dialogue, cooperation and regional integration as essential means of advancing peace, stability and prosperity in the region. Earlier in the day, the UAE's Ministry of Defense said its air defense systems detected two ballistic missiles launched from Iran toward the country, adding that the missiles were targeting maritime traffic. The ministry said that the first missile fell outside the UAE's territorial waters, while the second fell within the country's territorial waters. So far, no casualties or damage have been reported in connection with the missiles. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei on early Wednesday rejected such claims. Baghaei made the denial in a statement, saying the UAE's behavior was in contradiction with the principle of good neighborliness and disrupted ongoing efforts to promote trust among regional countries and prevent the intensification of insecurity. He called on regional countries to refrain from making "baseless" accusations "given the existing complications owing to the continued malicious acts by the United States and Israel against peace and security in the region." [Restrictions: No access Chinese mainland/Israel Media/Al-Arabiya/Persian language TV Stations outside Iran. Strictly No Access BBC Persian/VOA Persian/Manoto TV/Iran International/Radio Farda]