Graham Meets MBZ Amid Health Speculation
U.S. senator dismisses rumors on Emirati leader as American deployments continue alongside Iran talks
UAE | PUREWILAYAH.COM — U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham met Emirati President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday, amid online speculation surrounding the Emirati leader’s health.
The meeting took place as the United States continued to expand its military presence in West Asia.
Health Rumors and Political Messaging
Graham said in a post on X that he met MBZ for around 90 minutes and rejected what he described as “false narratives” about the United Arab Emirates and its president.
The remarks followed online speculation regarding MBZ’s health after Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan postponed a planned visit to Abu Dhabi. Erdogan’s office initially cited a “health problem” before deleting the statement.
According to the Emirati News Agency (WAM), the meeting addressed regional developments and efforts to promote peace in West Asia.
U.S. Military Movements and Regional Tensions
The visit coincided with talks between U.S. and Iranian representatives in Geneva on Tuesday, while American refueling tankers, electronic warfare aircraft, and fighter jets transited through the UK and Germany en route to the region.
The USS Abraham Lincoln has been deployed in the Persian Gulf since January and is expected to be joined by the USS Gerald R. Ford, currently sailing toward the Strait of Gibraltar.
The developments also come amid ongoing tensions between the UAE and Saudi Arabia over Yemen. In December, clashes broke out between forces aligned with the UAE-backed Southern Transitional Council and fighters loyal to Yemen’s Saudi-backed government, underscoring divisions within the anti-Houthi coalition. (PW)