![An Emirati flag fluttering above Dubai's marina with the Burj Al Arab landmark hotel (C) in the background, 3 June 2021 [KARIM SAHIB/AFP via Getty Images]](https://i0.wp.com/www.middleeastmonitor.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/GettyImages-1233243958.jpg?fit=1200%2C788&ssl=1)
The Iranian Embassy in the UAE has strongly denied any involvement in the killing of Israeli-Moldovan rabbi Zvi Kogan, whose body was found in Al Ain, UAE, after he went missing in Dubai last Thursday.
According to Reuters, the Iranian embassy in Abu Dhabi said it “categorically rejects the allegations of Iran’s involvement in the murder of this individual.” The denial comes as some Western media and Israeli officials blamed Iran for the crime without presenting evidence.
The body of 28-year-old Kogan, an ultra-Orthodox rabbi, who previously served in the occupation army’s Givati Brigade, was found yesterday, near the Oman border. It remains unclear whether Kogan was killed in Al Ain or elsewhere. He was last seen at a kosher supermarket in Dubai.
The UAE’s Interior Ministry announced that three suspects had been arrested in connection with the killing. While no details on the suspects have been released, the ministry promised a decisive response to “any actions or attempts that threaten societal stability.”
Kogan’s family reported him missing, prompting Emirati authorities to form an investigation team, which led to the discovery of his body and the suspects’ arrests.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the killing as a “heinous antisemitic terrorist act” and vowed that Israel would bring those responsible to justice. Senior Israeli officials also suggested the involvement of a “terrorist squad of Uzbek origin” allegedly working for Iran, claiming they fled to Turkiye after the abduction.
Israel Hayom reported yesterday that Iranian intelligence agencies have compiled detailed profiles on “thousands” of Israelis, identifying them as potential targets for operations both within Iran and abroad. Citing security sources, the report said hundreds of these individuals are classified as “high-risk,” with some reportedly receiving direct threats from Iranian agents. The targets include current and former defence officials, scientists, and academics.