DUBAI — The United Arab Emirates on Tuesday said that Iran had fired two ballistic missiles at shipping in the Gulf, an allegation later denied by Tehran.

 

"UAE air defenses detected two ballistic missiles launched from Iran toward the country, with the first falling outside the country's territorial waters, while the second fell within the territorial waters," the ministry said, in a statement posted to social media.

 

A second statement released later said: "Assessments carried out showed that the two ballistic missiles detected coming from Iran were targeting maritime navigation and fell into the sea."

 

Iran has warned that the Strait of Hormuz -- through which shipping leaving UAE ports must pass to exit the Gulf -- will remain closed until it reaches a peace agreement with the United States.

 

Citing regional escalations, the UAE also suspended all trade and financial dealings with Iran until further notice late Tuesday evening.

 

The first UAE statement came nearly two hours after a brief phone alert warned residents of a "potential missile threat".

 

"Due to the current situation, potential missile threats, immediately seek a safe place in the closest secure building," the interior ministry said in the phone alert, which was lifted shortly afterwards.

 

Tankers belonging to state-owned oil company ADNOC have been repeatedly targeted in the past few weeks.