Iran announced that "friendly" ships would be permitted to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, amid reports of a secret visit by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to the UAE during heightened regional tensions.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Thursday that, from Tehran’s perspective, the Strait of Hormuz remains open to all commercial vessels, provided they coordinate with Iranian naval forces, The Caspian Post reports, citing The New Arab.

The latest comments come as foreign ministers from the BRICS nations including Araghchi began a two-day meeting in New Delhi as the expanding bloc faces divisions over the war in Iran.

The latest developments in the Gulf came as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Wednesday that he had secretly visited the United Arab Emirates during the Israeli-US war with Iran.

His office claimed that this had further strengthening ties with the UAE, which normalized relations with Israel in 2020.

Netanyahu allegedly met with UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in a gathering that “resulted in a historic breakthrough in relations between Israel and the United Arab Emirates,” the statement from his office said.

However, the UAE's official WAM news agency denied that any secret visit by Netanyahu took place.

According to WAM, the country’s relations with Israel “are public and conducted within the framework of the well-known and officially declared Abraham Accords, and are not based on non-transparent or unofficial arrangements.”

The report also denied that any Israeli military delegation was received in the UAE.

Israel's announcement came a day after US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee revealed that Israel had sent Iron Dome air-defence weapons and personnel to operate them to the UAE.

The UAE has faced Iranian missile and drone fire amid the US-Israel war on Iran.