U.S. Wraps Up Persian Gulf Maneuvers

In this handout photo provided by the U.S. Navy, an E2-C Hawkeye takes off from the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower, during a second day of maneuvers, Wednesday, March 28, 2007, in the Persian Gulf. The maneuvers, involving 15 American ships and more than 100 aircraft, is the largest show of force in the Persian Gulf by the U.S. Navy since the 2003 invasion of Iraq, launching a mammoth exercise meant as a message to Iran. (AP Photo/U.S. Navy,Travis S. Alston) (Mcsn Travis S. Alston - AP)

"We have assured the brothers in Iran ... that we are not a party in its dispute with the United States," said United Arab Emirates Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyana in a statement carried on the Emirates news agency WAM. "We will not allow any force to use our territories for military, security and espionage activities against Iran."

The Emirates "refuses to use its territorial lands, air or waters for aggression against any other country," Khalifa said.

That could prevent the U.S. Air Force from flying intelligence missions over Iran with its squadron of U-2 and Global Hawk spy planes based at al-Dhafra Air Base near the Emirates capital, Abu Dhabi.

The U.S. Air Force said Wednesday it had not altered air operations in response to Sheik Khalifa's statement.

Air Force Lt. Col. Mike Pierson, based in Qatar, declined to say whether U-2s were flying missions over Iran, but said the Air Force only operated in international airspace or over countries that had granted permission.

In the run-up to the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq in 2003, Turkey denied access to Turkish territory, forcing U.S. military planners to adjust their plans and to forgo opening a northern front. The refusal ushered in a tense period in Turkish-American relations.

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Krane reported from Dubai and Calderwood from aboard the USS Stennis.