Netanyahu Briefs UAE Leader on Intelligence Pointing to Iran’s Renewed Nuclear Progress

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu presented Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, president of the United Arab Emirates, with new Israeli intelligence indicating that Iran has resumed advancing its nuclear program. CNN reported this Wednesday morning. Among other things, the meeting included data concerning new construction work at the "Mount Pickaxe" site in Iran.

According to two sources familiar with the details of the visit, a senior Saudi security official also took part in the political-security meeting, which was held earlier this week in Abu Dhabi. Alongside the Iranian nuclear issue, the discussions addressed a range of regional challenges, including threats from the Houthi militia in Yemen, securing the strategic shipping route through Bab el-Mandeb, and ensuring freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.

The UAE’s official news agency confirmed the day before yesterday that bin Zayed hosted Netanyahu on Sunday for a secret political meeting in Abu Dhabi. The confirmation was published after a day in which official Emirati sources avoided publicly addressing whether the meeting had taken place.

A statement from the Abu Dhabi government said the two discussed relations between Israel and the United Arab Emirates, as well as ways to continue strengthening and expanding them in a variety of areas. Political officials believe that the fact that this was the second meeting within a few months indicates that the Emirates views its relationship with Israel as a long-term strategic asset, one that does not depend on the identity of the country’s leadership.

The Prime Minister’s Office also confirmed the visit: "Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife visited the United Arab Emirates yesterday at the invitation of the President of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed. The visit focused on strengthening relations between the two countries and regional challenges, and was attended by the head of the National Security Council, the head of the Mossad, the military secretary, and the political adviser."