This screen grab from a video released by the US Central Command appears to show a strike on the Iranian-flagged tanker M/T Sea Star III. AFP
The UAE's Defense Ministry said Sunday it shot down two drones, blaming the attack on Iran.
In Kuwait, Defense Ministry spokesman Saud Abdulaziz Al Otaibi said that hostile drones entered Kuwait’s airspace early Sunday, and that forces responded “in accordance with established procedures.” The ministry didn’t say where the drones originated from.
Meanwhile, Qatar’s defense ministry said that a drone targeted a commercial ship coming from Abu Dhabi into a southern port, setting a small fire that was extinguished. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations Centre said that the attack happened 23 nautical miles (43 kilometers) northeast of Qatar’s capital, Doha. It provided no details about the ship’s owner or origin, and there was no claim of responsibility.
The events marked the latest threats to a month-old ceasefire, which the US Trump administration says remains in effect.
There have been several attacks against ships in the Gulf over the past week. On Friday, the U.S. struck two Iranian oil tankers as Iranian vessels were trying to reach ports.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guard navy on Sunday reiterated its warning that any attack on Iranian oil tankers or commercial vessels would be met with a “heavy assault” on one of the U.S. bases in the region and enemy ships.
Meanwhile, Iranian state television said Sunday that the head of the military central command, Ali Abdollahi, had met with the country's supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei, who has not been seen in public since his appointment in March.
Khamenei issued "new directives and guidance for the continuation of operations to confront the enemy", state TV said, without specifying when the meeting took place.
Khamenei, reportedly wounded in strikes on the first day of the Middle East war that claimed the life of his father and predecessor Ali Khamenei, has released only written statements since his appointment.
Moreover, the spokesman for the Iranian parliament's national security commission on Sunday warned the United States against any attacks on vessels in Gulf waters, saying Iran's restraint was over.
"Our restraint is over as of today. Any attack on our vessels will trigger a strong and decisive Iranian response against American ships and bases," said Ebrahim Rezaei in a post on X.
Pakistan is continuing to mediate during the ceasefire. Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said that he received a call from his Qatari counterpart, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, during which the two leaders discussed the evolving regional situation and reviewed ongoing peace efforts.
Sharif wrote on X that the countries shared "brotherly bonds" and said that he looked forward to an upcoming Qatari visit to Pakistan.
Washington has been awaiting Iran’s response to a new proposal for a deal to end the war, reopen the strait to shipping and roll back Iran’s nuclear program. U.S. President Donald Trump has reiterated threats to resume full-scale bombing if Iran doesn’t accept an agreement to reopen the strait and roll back its nuclear program. Iran has mostly blocked the waterway since joint strikes on Feb. 28 by the U.S. and Israel launched the war, which has caused a global spike in fuel prices and rattled world markets.
* This story was edited by Ahram Online.
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