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Middle East
Gulf drones intercepted as Trump warns Iran
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Saudi Arabia reported separate drone incidents over the weekend, as United States President Donald Trump warned Iran that the “clock is ticking” after talks aimed at ending the regional conflict stalled. A drone strike caused a fire at the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant in the UAE, officials said in a post on X, while Saudi Arabia reported intercepting three drones that entered its airspace from Iraq. Emirati officials said they were investigating the source of the attack and stressed the UAE had the right to respond. Saudi Arabia said the three drones it intercepted had crossed from Iraqi airspace and warned it would take all necessary operational measures to protect its sovereignty and security. Although hostilities linked to the Iran conflict have eased since a ceasefire took effect in April, drones have continued to be launched from Iraq toward Gulf states, including Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. According to the Abu Dhabi Media Office, the drone that penetrated UAE defences struck an electrical generator outside the inner perimeter of the Barakah facility. Authorities said there were no injuries and radiological safety levels were unaffected. The UAE’s Federal Authority for Nucl
Middle East
Ship reportedly seized near UAE coast
A vessel was reportedly boarded by unauthorised personnel on Thursday while anchored northeast of the United Arab Emirates port of Fujairah and was heading towards Iranian territorial waters, according to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO). Two maritime security sources said the vessel was believed to be the Honduras-flagged Hui Chuan fishery research ship. The incident occurred around 38 nautical miles, or 70 kilometres, northeast of Fujairah, UKMTO said, citing information received from the vessel’s security officer. According to Reuters, British maritime security advisory firm Vanguard said a company security officer reported that “the vessel was taken by ⁠Iranian personnel while at anchor”. The development comes amid ongoing tensions in the Strait of Hormuz, a vital global shipping route that has faced major disruption during the conflict involving Iran. Separately, an Indian cargo vessel carrying livestock from Africa to the United Arab Emirates sank on Wednesday in waters off the coast of Oman. India condemned the attack and confirmed that all 14 crew members had been rescued by the Omani coast guard. Vanguard said the vessel was believed to have been struck by either a missile or a dro
Middle East
Saudi Arabia launched covert strikes on Iran in March
Saudi Arabia has reportedly carried out covert military strikes on Iran in retaliation for attacks on the kingdom, according to Reuters, citing Western and Iranian officials, signalling an escalation in the widening regional conflict. The previously unreported attacks mark the first known instance of Saudi Arabia directly conducting military operations on Iranian territory. According to two Western officials and two Iranian officials briefed on the matter, the strikes were launched by the Saudi Air Force in late March following Iranian attacks on Saudi targets during the ongoing Middle East war. Saudi Arabia has historically relied heavily on the United States military for regional protection due to the close defence relationship between the two countries. However, the prolonged 10-week conflict has exposed vulnerabilities in the Gulf kingdom’s security arrangements as Iranian missile and drone attacks penetrated regional defence systems. Since the outbreak of hostilities involving the United States and Israel, Iran has reportedly targeted all six Gulf Cooperation Council states with missiles and drones, striking U.S. military bases, airports, civilian infrastructure and oil facilities while also closing the Strait
Middle East
Trump says Iran ceasefire on 'life support'
United States President Donald Trump said on Monday that the fragile ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran was on “life support” after Tehran submitted what he described as an unacceptable counterproposal to Washington’s efforts to end the conflict. Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office, Trump said the month-old truce had become increasingly unstable following Iran’s latest response to U.S. negotiators. “The ceasefire is unbelievably weak,” Trump said. “I would call it the weakest, right now, after reading that piece of garbage they sent us. I didn't even finish reading it,” Trump said. “I would say the ceasefire is on massive life support, where the doctor walks in and says, ‘Sir, your loved one has approximately a 1% chance of living,’” he said. The ceasefire began on 8 April after Trump threatened to destroy Iran’s “whole civilisation” if an agreement was not reached. Although the truce was initially intended to last for two weeks, Trump later extended it unilaterally on 21 April. Since its introduction, both Washington and Tehran have repeatedly accused one another of breaching the terms of the agreement, leaving the ceasefire under pressure from the outset. Trump had originally stated that the ceasefire
Middle East
Trump rejects Iran response on peace proposal
United States President Donald Trump on Sunday (Monday AEST) rejected Iran’s response to a U.S. proposal aimed at ending the conflict in the Middle East, as limited shipping movements resumed through the blockaded Strait of Hormuz amid continuing regional tensions. "I have just read the response from Iran’s so-called “Representatives.” I don’t like it — TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE," Trump posted on Truth Social. “The current phase of negotiations is focused exclusively on the cessation of hostilities in the region,” Iran’s IRNA news agency reported, per Politico. The exchange followed a U.S. proposal calling for an end to hostilities before broader negotiations commenced on more contentious matters, including Iran’s nuclear program. The Wall Street Journal, citing unnamed sources, reported that Iran had proposed diluting part of its highly enriched uranium stockpile while transferring the remainder to a third country. Despite a month-old ceasefire and nearly 48 hours of relative calm, hostile drones were reportedly detected over several Gulf nations on Sunday, amid continued instability in the region. However, there were signs of limited progress in maritime activity. The QatarEnergy-operated liquefied natural gas carri

Middle East
Iran still reviewing US proposal amid clashes
Iran said it is still reviewing a new United States peace proposal delivered through Pakistani mediators, as tensions escalated again in the Strait of Hormuz despite ongoing efforts to negotiate an end to the conflict. Iranian state media on Thursday cited Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei as saying Tehran was “currently reviewing” messages from Washington but had not yet reached a conclusion or provided a formal response. The remarks came after reports from Axios and other media outlets indicated the United States and Iran were nearing a 14-point memorandum of understanding aimed at ending the war and laying the groundwork for further nuclear negotiations. Speaking at the White House, President Donald Trump said Iran wanted to “make a deal very much, and we’ll see whether or not they can make a deal that’s satisfactory to us,” according to CNBC. At a campaign event on Wednesday evening supporting Georgia Republican gubernatorial candidate Burt Jones, Trump predicted the conflict would “be over quickly,” according to CBS News. Investor attention remained focused on the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most strategically important oil shipping routes, which has been heavily disrupted during the
Middle East
Trump warns of escalation if Iran deal fails
United States President Donald Trump has warned that Iran will face significantly intensified military action if it fails to agree to a proposed peace deal, as negotiations between Washington and Tehran appear to be approaching a potential resolution. Trump said in a post on Truth Social that the ongoing U.S. military campaign, known as Operation Epic Fury, “will be at an end” if Iran “agrees to give what has been agreed to, which is, perhaps, a big assumption”. However, he issued a stark warning on the consequences of a breakdown in talks. “If they don’t agree, the bombing starts, and it will be, sadly, at a much higher level and intensity than it was before.” The comments come as Axios reported that the U.S. and Iran are close to finalising a framework agreement aimed at ending the conflict, which has been ongoing for more than two months. According to the report, the proposed memorandum would outline initial commitments from both sides while setting the stage for broader negotiations. Under the reported terms, Iran would agree to a moratorium on nuclear enrichment, while the United States would move to lift sanctions. Both sides would also scale back restrictions on maritime traffic through the strategically c
Middle East
Trump pauses 'Project Freedom' amid Iran deal hopes
United States President Donald Trump said he will temporarily pause a military operation aimed at escorting commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz, citing progress in negotiations with Iran. In a post on Truth Social on Tuesday (Wednesday AEST), Trump announced that “Project Freedom”, launched just one day earlier, would be halted as diplomatic efforts advance. The operation had been designed to guide ships stranded in the Persian Gulf amid escalating conflict. Trump said the decision was based in part on “the fact that Great Progress has been made toward a Complete and Final Agreement” with Iran. He added that Project Freedom “will be paused for a short period of time to see whether or not the Agreement can be finalised and signed”. The announcement lifted investor sentiment, with stock futures moving higher on hopes that a potential agreement could bring an end to the U.S.-Israeli conflict involving Iran and allow the reopening of the strategically critical waterway. The Strait of Hormuz, a key artery for global energy and trade flows, has been effectively closed since the outbreak of hostilities, severely disrupting shipping activity. According to the Trump administration, nearly 23,000 sailors acr
Middle East
US says Iran ceasefire still intact despite clashes
United States Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said the fragile ceasefire between the United States and Iran remains in effect, despite renewed exchanges of fire and escalating tensions in the Strait of Hormuz. Speaking at a Pentagon briefing on Tuesday, Hegseth insisted that recent incidents did not signal a breakdown in the truce. “The ceasefire is not over,” he said, addressing reporters following Iranian attacks on U.S. forces and commercial vessels under American protection. The flare-up came after the United States launched “Project Freedom”, an operation aimed at escorting commercial ships stranded in the Persian Gulf since the conflict began on 28 February. The initiative is designed to restore safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical artery for global energy supplies. Hegseth noted that the maritime operation is separate from the broader confrontation with Iran over its nuclear programme. “Ultimately, this is a separate, distinct project,” he said, adding, “We expected there would be some churn at the beginning, which happened. And we said we would defend and defend aggressively, and we absolutely have.” He reiterated that the United States would respond firmly to any threats while urging Tehran