The ministry said in a statement that defense systems were “actively engaging” aerial threats and urged residents not to approach or photograph debris from intercepted projectiles.The attack came hours after the U.S. military said American naval forces in the Strait of Hormuz had intercepted Iranian attacks targeting three U.S. Navy vessels late Thursday and carried out retaliatory strikes against Iranian military facilities linked to operations against American forces.

United States Central Command said in a social media statement that U.S. forces responded to “unprovoked Iranian attacks” with what it described as self-defense strikes. The military said no American ships were hit and added that Washington did not seek further escalation but remained prepared to defend U.S. personnel and assets in the region.

Donald Trump told reporters in Washington that the ceasefire agreement between Tehran and Washington was still in effect despite renewed hostilities.

The latest violence threatens a truce that has largely held since April 8 after nearly six weeks of conflict triggered by U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iranian targets beginning Feb. 28.The UAE was among the Gulf states most affected during the conflict, facing repeated missile and drone attacks that authorities attributed to Iran.

Emirati officials said this week that strikes reported on Monday and Tuesday marked the first attacks on UAE territory since the ceasefire took effect.

According to UAE authorities, the country has been targeted by more than 2,000 drones, hundreds of ballistic missiles and dozens of cruise missiles since the war began. Officials said most were intercepted, but the attacks killed at least 13 people, injured more than 200 and damaged energy infrastructure and prominent buildings.

Other Gulf Arab countries also reported attacks during the conflict despite maintaining they were not directly participating in the U.S.-Israeli military campaign against Iran.On Thursday, the UAE announced the formation of a national committee to document what it described as Iranian attacks and the resulting human, economic and material losses, laying groundwork for potential legal action against Tehran.

State news agency WAM said the committee, chaired by the UAE attorney general, would gather evidence according to internationally recognized legal and technical standards to support future claims for accountability, reparations and justice.The move followed renewed diplomatic tensions after the UAE condemned statements by Iranian officials accusing Abu Dhabi’s security cooperation with Washington of threatening Iran’s national interests.

The United Arab Emirates Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the country’s defense partnerships were a sovereign matter.

Efforts to secure a broader settlement remain stalled after talks hosted by Pakistan last month between U.S. and Iranian representatives ended without a comprehensive agreement to halt the conflict permanently.

The UAE blamed Iran for the attack, which occurred on Monday at an energy installation along the Gulf coast. Iranian state television said the Islamic republic had “no pre-planned program” to target oil facilities in the UAE.

India’s foreign ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said New Delhi “calls for immediate cessation of these hostilities and the targeting of civilian infrastructure and innocent civilians,” adding that the country supports efforts toward a peaceful resolution.

He also urged “free and unimpeded navigation and commerce through the Strait of Hormuz in keeping with international law.”The incident comes amid broader disruptions to energy supply chains since the onset of conflict in the Middle East in late February. India, the world’s third-largest oil importer, typically sources about half of its crude oil through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint for global energy shipments.

Analysts have warned that India’s reliance on imported energy, combined with relatively modest strategic reserves compared with major consumers such as China, leaves it exposed to price volatility and supply shocks linked to regional instability.Shipping and import data indicate that New Delhi has moved to offset disruptions by diversifying supply, including increased reliance on Russian crude.

This shift follows earlier efforts to reduce dependence on such imports amid pressure from U.S. trade measures.India has reiterated its readiness to support diplomatic initiatives aimed at stabilizing the region, as tensions continue to threaten key maritime routes and energy infrastructure.

Authorities in Russia’s Leningrad region confirmed that additional mobile fire units would be deployed to protect strategic facilities, including the major Baltic ports of and , which have faced repeated attacks in recent weeks. Governor said the units would include reservists serving on voluntary contracts, tasked specifically with countering unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) threats.

Kyiv has described the strikes as retaliatory measures against Russia’s sustained aerial bombardment of Ukrainian cities. Ukrainian forces have increasingly targeted Russia’s energy infrastructure, aiming to disrupt export revenues that remain a key source of funding for Moscow’s war effort.

The attacks have had a measurable impact on Russia’s oil logistics. According to data cited by the Center for Research on Energy and Clean Air, oil shipments from Ust-Luga and Primorsk fell by roughly half in the week following a March 23 drone strike compared to the same period a year earlier.

Despite these disruptions, Russia’s oil revenues have shown resilience. The reported that Russian oil export earnings nearly doubled to $19 billion in March, reflecting elevated global prices amid broader geopolitical tensions, including conflict in the Middle East.
President had previously authorized the use of reservists to guard energy infrastructure under legislation signed last year, as Ukraine expanded its use of long-range drones to strike deeper into Russian territory.

The intensifying exchange of strikes underscores a shift in the conflict toward targeting economic assets, with both sides seeking to degrade the other’s capacity to sustain prolonged military operations.

The refinery attack triggered fires that emergency and firefighting teams were working to contain, the company said in a statement carried by state media. No injuries were reported, and operations were being monitored closely, including air quality in surrounding areas, which officials said showed no immediate environmental impact.

Earlier, Kuwait’s military said its air defense systems were engaging incoming missile and drone threats.

The Ministry of Electricity, Water and Renewable Energy said a separate strike hit a power and desalination plant, causing material damage to parts of the facility. Emergency teams were deployed under contingency plans to maintain operations and secure infrastructure.

Kuwait has faced repeated missile and drone attacks since the outbreak of conflict involving Iran and its regional adversaries, increasing pressure on critical energy and utility infrastructure.

The latest strikes highlight the growing risk to energy supply chains and essential services in the Gulf, even as authorities seek to contain damage and maintain operational continuity.

“The U.S. military hasn’t even started destroying what’s left in Iran. Bridges next, then Electric Power Plants,” Trump wrote on social media, urging Iran’s leadership to act quickly in response to Washington’s demands.

In a televised address a day earlier, Trump said military operations could intensify over the coming weeks if Tehran did not comply, with possible strikes extending to energy and oil facilities. However, he did not provide a clear timeline for the end of the conflict.

The war, which began on February 28 with coordinated U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran, has since expanded, with Tehran launching retaliatory strikes on Israel and Gulf states hosting U.S. military bases. The conflict has resulted in thousands of deaths and widespread displacement, while also driving up global oil prices and increasing volatility in financial markets.

Iranian media, including Fars News Agency, reported that regional infrastructure, including major bridges in neighboring countries, could also face risks following recent strikes.

The latest remarks have drawn scrutiny from legal experts. Dozens of international law specialists in the United States signed an open letter warning that attacks on infrastructure essential for civilian life could violate the Geneva Conventions, which prohibit targeting civilian objects and require distinction between military and non-military assets during armed conflict.

Trump’s statements add to uncertainty surrounding U.S. strategy in the conflict, with shifting objectives and timelines contributing to concerns among analysts about the scope and duration of military operations.

In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump said discussions over the past two days had raised the prospect of a “complete and total resolution of hostilities in the Middle East.” Speaking later to reporters before departing Florida for Memphis, he described the talks as “very, very strong,” adding that negotiators had reached agreement on “almost all points.”

Trump said U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, who had previously engaged in negotiations with Iran, held discussions with a senior Iranian official on Sunday evening and were expected to continue talks on Monday. He declined to identify the Iranian interlocutor, stating only that it was not the country’s supreme leader, and said Washington was engaging with “the man who I believe is the most respected and the leader.”

Reporter for Axios said officials from Turkey, Egypt and Pakistan had separately met Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi, suggesting a coordinated mediation effort. Iran’s foreign ministry acknowledged unspecified “initiatives” aimed at reducing tensions, according to the Mehr news agency, and reiterated that Tehran expected Washington to participate directly in any negotiations as a principal party to the conflict.

The diplomatic push comes hours before a previously signaled U.S. deadline that had raised the prospect of escalation targeting Iranian energy infrastructure, a move widely seen as carrying significant regional and economic risks.

Trump said he had communicated with Israel, describing the U.S. ally as supportive of ongoing diplomatic efforts. A source briefed on Israeli planning said Washington had kept Israel informed of its contacts with Tehran and indicated that Israel was likely to mirror the U.S. pause by suspending any targeting of Iranian power plants and related infrastructure.

Trump’s comments helped ease immediate concerns of escalation, with oil prices falling and stock markets recovering as investors reassessed geopolitical risk. The prospect of a temporary halt in strikes on energy assets signaled a reduced likelihood of near-term disruption to regional supply.

Diplomatic contacts are expected to continue in the coming days as intermediaries seek to bridge remaining gaps between Washington and Tehran.

A fuel reservoir at Primorsk caught fire after a drone strike, Alexander Drozdenko, governor of the Leningrad region, said on Telegram. Separately, Ust-Luga operations were halted due to a drone alert in the surrounding area, the sources said.

Both ports, located in Russia’s northwestern Leningrad region, handle the bulk of the country’s seaborne crude oil and refined fuel exports from its western outlets, making them critical nodes in Russia’s energy supply chain.

The suspensions underscore growing vulnerabilities in Russia’s energy infrastructure as drone attacks increasingly target logistics and export facilities. While the extent of damage and the expected duration of the halt were not immediately clear, any prolonged disruption could tighten export availability from Baltic routes.

Transneft, Russia’s state-controlled oil pipeline monopoly that operates both Primorsk and Ust-Luga, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Primorsk and Ust-Luga serve as key gateways for Russian crude and petroleum products destined for international markets, particularly in Europe and beyond via maritime routes. Interruptions at these ports can affect shipping schedules, storage logistics and broader supply balances.

The incidents come amid heightened geopolitical tensions and a pattern of attacks on energy infrastructure, raising concerns over the resilience of supply networks and potential knock-on effects in global oil markets.

Brent crude futures rose 65 cents to $112.84 a barrel by 0446 GMT, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate climbed 84 cents to $98.75, after both benchmarks had earlier fallen by more than $1. The spread between the two contracts widened to over $13 a barrel, the largest gap in years.

The volatility follows a U.S. decision to allow the temporary delivery and sale of Iranian-origin oil already at sea, injecting additional supply into markets strained by disruptions linked to the ongoing conflict.

Market sentiment remained highly sensitive to geopolitical developments after Donald Trump issued a 48-hour ultimatum demanding Iran fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz or face strikes on its power plants.Iranian officials responded with warnings that any such action would trigger attacks on critical energy and infrastructure assets across the Gulf.

Iran’s Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf said regional facilities could face “irreversible” damage if Iranian plants were targeted.Analysts said the exchange of threats pointed to a heightened risk of escalation.

Amrita Sen of Energy Aspects said markets were underestimating the likelihood that Iran would resist pressure, warning that further confrontation could have severe consequences for Gulf infrastructure.

Despite the release of additional Iranian oil, traders remained focused on the scale of supply disruption caused by the conflict. The Strait of Hormuz, a key artery for global energy flows handling roughly 20% of oil and liquefied natural gas trade, has been severely affected.Industry estimates suggest the war has removed between 7 million and 10 million barrels per day from Middle East production, tightening global supply even as policymakers attempt to stabilise markets.

Vandana Hari of Vanda Insights said short-term price movements would continue to be driven by geopolitical rhetoric, but longer-term trends would depend on the restoration of oil flows from the region.

Fatih Birol, head of the International Energy Agency, described the current crisis as “very severe,” exceeding the combined impact of the oil shocks of the 1970s.The conflict, now in its fourth week, has damaged major energy facilities and disrupted shipping routes, amplifying concerns over prolonged supply constraints and broader economic fallout.

The interplay between potential supply increases from Iranian oil and the risk of further infrastructure damage has left markets exposed to sharp price swings as the situation evolves.

Trump issued the warning in a social media post on Saturday, saying Washington would “obliterate” Iranian power facilities if the strategic waterway remained closed. The strait, a critical conduit for global oil flows, has been effectively shut amid the ongoing hostilities.

Iran’s military command, Khatam al-Anbiya, said any attack on its fuel and energy infrastructure would trigger strikes on U.S. and Israeli assets, including critical civilian-linked systems.

The statement, carried by state media, underscored a widening scope of potential targets beyond conventional military sites.

Iranian officials also indicated that access through the Strait of Hormuz would be restricted, with passage permitted selectively, reflecting Tehran’s control over the route during the conflict.

The escalation coincided with renewed Iranian missile barrages on Israel, including strikes near the southern cities of Dimona and Arad, close to the Negev Desert nuclear research area.

Israeli authorities said dozens were injured and residential buildings sustained heavy damage.Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the impact in Arad caused extensive destruction but no fatalities, while urging adherence to air raid warnings. Israel’s military acknowledged that some missiles were not intercepted, marking a breach in air defence coverage in the area.

Iran’s parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said the strikes indicated a shift to a new operational phase in the conflict.

The conflict has extended beyond Iran and Israel, with Hezbollah claiming responsibility for a deadly strike in northern Israel, while Gulf states reported drone and missile activity targeting energy infrastructure.

Iran also targeted the joint UK-U.S. military facility at Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean, though officials said the strike was unsuccessful. Military assessments cited in reports suggested the possibility of longer-range capabilities or alternative launch methods, though no confirmation was provided by Tehran.

The disruption to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has halted most tanker traffic, contributing to supply constraints and rising global energy prices. Countries including the United Arab Emirates, Britain, Germany, France and Japan have expressed readiness to support efforts to restore safe navigation through the waterway.

U.S. Central Command said earlier that strikes on Iranian coastal facilities had degraded Tehran’s ability to target vessels in the strait. Additional U.S. naval assets and personnel are being deployed to the region as part of ongoing operations.

Casualties have mounted across multiple theatres, with Iran reporting more than 1,500 deaths, while Israel, the United States and Gulf states have also recorded military and civilian losses.

Air raid sirens sounded across Israel early on Sunday, warning of incoming Iranian missiles, after dozens of people were wounded overnight in separate attacks in the southern towns of Arad and Dimona. Israel’s military said it was carrying out strikes on Tehran hours after the Iranian attacks.

Trump on Saturday warned he would “obliterate” Iran’s power plants if Tehran did not fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz within 48 hours, marking a sharp escalation a day after suggesting the conflict could be wound down.

Iran responded on Sunday by warning it would strike U.S. infrastructure, including energy facilities in the Gulf, if Washington followed through on its threat. The warning came as U.S. Marines and heavy landing craft continued moving toward the region.

The exchange of threats has heightened fears that energy installations across key Gulf producers could become direct targets, widening the conflict beyond current theatres of engagement.

The escalating the crisis has disrupted markets, pushing fuel costs higher and intensifying concerns over global inflation. Analysts said the situation has introduced acute uncertainty into financial markets already strained by supply disruptions.

“President Trump’s threat has now placed a 48-hour ticking time bomb of elevated uncertainty over markets,” said Tony Sycamore, an analyst at IG.

He warned that failure to de-escalate could trigger sharp declines in global equities and further spikes in oil prices.

Oil prices rose on Friday to their highest levels in nearly four years after Iraq declared force majeure on oilfields operated by foreign firms, Israel struck a major Iranian gas field, and Tehran retaliated with attacks on neighbouring countries including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Kuwait.

Iranian actions have effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow passage that carries around a fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas supplies, triggering what analysts describe as the most severe oil disruption since the 1970s.

The near-closure has also driven European gas prices sharply higher, with increases of up to 35% reported last week, reflecting the strait’s central role in global energy flows.

In a social media post late on Saturday, Trump reiterated his ultimatum, saying the United States would begin targeting Iran’s power infrastructure if the waterway was not reopened “fully” and “without threat” within the specified timeframe.