Cargo ship catches fire after being hit off Qatar
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — The United Arab Emirates stated Sunday it intercepted two Iranian drones in its airspace within the newest check of a shaky ceasefire.
The Defense Ministry within the oil-rich nation stated there have been no stories of casualties.
It comes the identical day a drone strike began a small blaze aboard a industrial ship off the coast of Qatar and Kuwait stated it fend off a drone assault.
THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. AP’s earlier story follows beneath.
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — The shaky ceasefire in the iranian war was examined once more on Sunday when drones of unclear origin set fire to a cargo ship off Qatar’s coast and entered Kuwaiti airspace earlier than daybreak, authorities stated.
Qatar and Kuwait stated that no casualties have been reported from both assault. The occasions marked the most recent threats to a month-old ceasefire, which the Trump administration says stays in impact.
The pause in preventing has confronted difficulties, with Iran proscribing visitors by way of the Strait of Hormuza strategic waterway key to the worldwide movement of oil, and the US imposing a blockade of Iranian ports.
Washington has been awaiting Iran’s response to a brand new proposal for a deal to finish the struggle, reopen the strait to transport and roll again Iran’s nuclear program. US President donald trump you might have reiterated threats to renew full-scale bombing, if Iran would not settle for an settlement to reopen the strait and roll again its nuclear program. Iran has principally blocked the waterway since joint strikes on Feb. 28 by the US and Israel launched the struggle, which has brought about a world spike in gas costs and rattled world markets.
One of the principle sticking factors within the negotiations is the destiny of Iran’s stockpile of extremely enriched uranium. The UN nuclear company says Iran has greater than 440 kilograms (970 kilos) of uranium that’s enriched as much as 60% purity, a brief, technical step from weapons-grade ranges.
In an interview with Iranian state media, a spokesperson for the Iranian army stated that forces have been on “full readiness” to guard nuclear websites the place the uranium is saved.
“We considered it possible that they might intend to steal it through infiltration operations or heliborne operations,” Brig. Gen. Akrami Nia advised the IRNA information company late Saturday. He did not supply additional particulars.
The majority of Iran’s extremely enriched uranium is probably going nonetheless at its Isfahan nuclear advanced, International Atomic Energy Agency Director-General Rafael Mariano Grossi advised The Associated Press last month.
The Isfahan facility was bombarded by US-Israeli airstrikes within the 12-day struggle final yr, and confronted much less intense assaults on this yr’s struggle.
In Sunday’s naval assault, Qatar’s ministry of protection stated {that a} drone focused a industrial ship coming from Abu Dhabi right into a southern port, setting a small fire that was extinguished. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations Center stated that the assault occurred 23 nautical miles (43 kilometers) northeast of Qatar’s capital, Doha. It gave no particulars on the proprietor or origin of the ship, and there was no declare of accountability.
There have been a number of assaults in opposition to ships within the Persian Gulf over the previous week. On Friday, the US struck two Iranian oil tankers after it stated that the vessels have been attempting to breach its blockade of Iran’s ports.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guard navy on Sunday reiterated its warning that any attack on Iranian oil tankers or industrial vessels can be met with a “heavy assault” on one of many US bases within the area and enemy ships.
In Kuwait, Defense Ministry spoke Brig. Gen. Saud Abdulaziz Al Otaibi stated that hostile drones entered Kuwait’s airspace early Sunday, and that forces responded “in accordance with established procedures.” There have been no instant stories of casualties and the ministry did not say the place the drones had come from.
Pakistan is constant to mediate through the ceasefire. Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif stated Sunday that he acquired a name from his Qatari counterpart, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, throughout which the 2 leaders mentioned the evolving regional scenario and reviewed ongoing peace efforts.
Sharif wrote on X that the nations shared “brotherly bonds” and stated that he appeared ahead to an upcoming Qatari go to to Pakistan.
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Samy Magdy reported from Cairo. Munir Ahmed in Islamabad, and Julia Frankel in Jerusalem, contributed to this report.