15.03.2026 13:51
Iran struck a skyscraper housing the American bank Citibank in Dubai with a drone as retaliation for the U.S. attacks on Iran's oil regions and banks; following the attack, a large explosion and fire occurred in the building.
The war between the US-Israel and Iran, which has been ongoing for the 16th day, escalated with a new attack. In response to the US attacks on Iran's oil regions and infrastructure facilities, Iran targeted a skyscraper housing the US bank Citibank located in Dubai with a drone.
A BIG EXPLOSION OCCURRED
Images from the United Arab Emirates show that a drone hit one of the skyscrapers where the bank is located, followed by a violent explosion. It was reported that a fire broke out in the building after the explosion and there was widespread panic in the area.
"WE RETALIATED AGAINST THE US" STATEMENT
Abbas Araghchi, an Iranian Foreign Ministry official, stated in an interview with state television that the attack was a retaliation against the US. Araghchi noted that the US targeted a bank in Iran two days ago and expressed that they responded in kind.
In his statement, Araghchi said, "The US targeted a bank in Iran two days ago. We also responded in kind by targeting a building belonging to American Citibank located in neighboring countries."
RESPONSE TO THE ATTACK ON SEPAH BANK
The attack is said to be a response to the attack on Sepah Bank in Iran on March 11. In that attack, the bank's digital security center was targeted, and serious disruptions were reported in the online systems of Melli Bank and Sepah Bank.
CITIBANK BRANCHES HAD BEEN CLOSED
Following statements suggesting that Iran could target American financial institutions in the region, Citibank management increased security measures. The bank decided to temporarily close many of its branches in the United Arab Emirates for security reasons.
The attack in Dubai has led to comments that the conflict between the US and Iran has expanded to include economic and financial targets in the region.
WHY IS IRAN TARGETING THE UAE?
The reason for Iran's attack on the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is not a direct war with the UAE; rather, it is targeting the presence of these countries in the region in the war it is waging against the US and Israel. There are several key reasons for this:
1. US military bases
There are significant military facilities used by the US in the UAE. Al Dhafra Air Base, near Abu Dhabi, is considered one of the most critical operational centers for the US in the Middle East. Iran has stated that it targets American assets in the region because it claims these bases are used for attacks against Iran.
2. Targets belonging to US interests
The Iranian administration has declared not only Israel but also American military and economic targets in the region as legitimate targets in the war. Therefore, Gulf countries where US companies, banks, or bases are located are also at risk of attack.
3. Retaliation against US-Israel attacks
After the US and Israel targeted military and economic infrastructure in Iran, Tehran announced that it would carry out retaliatory attacks against American interests in the region. In this context, targets in Qatar, Bahrain, and the UAE have also made it onto Iran's attack list.
4. American military network in the Gulf
Many US military points in the Middle East are located in Gulf countries. Iran has stated that it could also strike targets in countries cooperating with the US, as it claims these bases play an active role in the war.
US-ISRAEL'S ATTACKS ON IRAN
While negotiations continued between the Tehran and Washington administrations, Israel and the US launched a military attack on Iran on February 28. Iran responded with attacks on targets it identified in several regional countries, including Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar, where US bases are located, in addition to Israel.
In the US-Israel attacks, Iranian leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, along with many high-ranking officials, was killed. According to Iranian officials, the death toll from the US-Israel attacks exceeded 1,348, and the number of injured surpassed 17,000.