Saudi Arabia and UAE report drone attacks amid stalled peace talks in US-Israel war with Iran.
US President Donald Trump has issued a stark warning to Iran, declaring that the “clock is ticking” for Tehran to reach a deal to end the ongoing war, as drone attacks targeted sites in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, heightening fears of a wider regional escalation.
The incidents come as efforts to broker a lasting ceasefire between the US, Israel and Iran appear deadlocked, with fragile truce agreements repeatedly tested by fresh violence.
Drones hit near Barakah nuclear plant:
UAE authorities reported that a drone struck an electrical generator outside the perimeter of the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant on Sunday, sparking a fire but causing no injuries or radiological release. The plant, the Arab world’s first nuclear power facility, supplies roughly a quarter of the UAE’s electricity.
UAE defence officials said air defences intercepted two of three drones approaching from the country’s western border, while a third penetrated and hit the generator near the facility in Al Dhafra. Officials described the strike as an “unprovoked terrorist attack” and are investigating its origin.
Separately, Saudi Arabia said it intercepted three drones, with some reports indicating they entered from Iraqi airspace. Riyadh condemned the attacks on Gulf infrastructure.
No group has immediately claimed responsibility for the strikes, though the incidents have raised suspicions amid the broader conflict involving Iran.
Trump: ‘There won’t be anything left of them’
President Trump directly addressed Iran following reports of the drone incidents and a conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
“For Iran, the Clock is Ticking, and they better get moving, FAST, or there won’t be anything left of them. TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE!” Trump wrote.
The US president’s rhetoric comes as negotiations to end the war-which began with US-Israeli strikes on Iran earlier this year-have stalled, particularly over issues including Iran’s nuclear programme, regional proxies and security guarantees.
Ceasefire Under Strain Over Drone Attacks:
A tenuous ceasefire has been in place since early April, but repeated violations and a lack of progress toward a comprehensive agreement have kept tensions high across the Gulf. The targeting of nuclear infrastructure, even if limited to a peripheral generator, has drawn international concern, with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) urging “maximum military restraint” near such facilities.
Iran has not yet issued an official response to the latest drone incidents or Trump’s warning. Iranian officials have previously signalled readiness for “surprise scenarios” if pressured.