US-Israel war on Iran: UK commits $153mn and warships to Hormuz mission, UAE OPEC exit is not political; Latest updates

Kuwait condemns Barakah drone strike as violation of UAE sovereignty and international law

Kuwait’s Foreign Ministry strongly condemned the drone attack on the electrical generator outside the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant perimeter, describing it as a blatant violation of UAE sovereignty and a serious threat to regional security and stability.

The ministry said targeting peaceful nuclear facilities breaches international law, humanitarian law, and the UN Charter, given the grave risks to civilians, the environment, and regional and international security.

It reaffirmed Kuwait’s full solidarity with the UAE and support for all measures taken to safeguard its sovereignty, territorial integrity, and stability.

Arab Parliament speaker condemns Barakah attack, calls for international action against hostile acts

Arab Parliament Speaker Mohammed bin Ahmed Al Yamahi strongly condemned the drone attack near the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant, calling it a flagrant violation of international law, an unacceptable breach of UAE sovereignty, and a dangerous escalation threatening regional security and stability.

He reaffirmed the Arab Parliament’s full solidarity with the UAE and complete support for all measures it takes to protect its security and critical infrastructure.

Al Yamahi stressed that UAE security is an integral part of the broader Arab national security framework and called on the international community to take an immediate and firm stance against hostile acts that violate the UN Charter and threaten regional peace.

Arab League chief condemns Barakah drone strike as dangerous escalation threatening regional security

Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit condemned the drone attack near the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant, calling it a highly dangerous escalation that threatens the security of the entire region and a flagrant violation of international law and norms protecting civilian nuclear facilities.

He affirmed the Arab League’s solidarity with the UAE and support for all measures it takes to safeguard its sovereignty, security, stability, and national assets.

Jordan condemns Barakah drone attack, stands in full solidarity with UAE

Jordan’s Ministry of Foreign and Expatriate Affairs condemned the drone strike near the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant as a flagrant violation of UAE sovereignty and a threat to its security, stability, and territorial integrity.

The ministry declared full solidarity with the UAE and expressed support for all measures taken to protect its sovereignty, security, and the safety of its citizens and residents.

Egypt condemns Barakah drone strike, calls UAE’s security integral to its own

Egypt’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the drone attack near the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant, describing it as a serious escalation and a clear violation of UAE sovereignty and international law.

The ministry reaffirmed full solidarity with the UAE and reiterated Egypt’s longstanding position that the security and stability of the UAE and all Gulf states are inseparable from Egypt’s own national security.

Bahrain condemns Barakah drone attack, backs UAE’s right to protect its sovereignty

Bahrain’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs strongly condemned the drone attack on the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant perimeter, calling it a flagrant violation of international law, the UN Charter, good neighborliness principles, and UN Security Council Resolution 2817.

The ministry praised Abu Dhabi’s air defense forces for their swift and professional response, which prevented casualties and kept radiation levels unaffected.

Bahrain reaffirmed its absolute solidarity with the UAE and full support for all legitimate measures to defend its sovereignty, security, and vital infrastructure, calling for stronger regional and international cooperation to protect civilians and sustain peace.

UAE foreign minister rallies Arab allies after Barakah drone strike, reaffirms right to respond

Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs held phone calls with the foreign ministers of Qatar, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Morocco, Egypt, and Bahrain to discuss the fallout from the drone strike on the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant perimeter.

All parties strongly condemned the attack as a dangerous escalation and a clear violation of international law and the UN Charter, citing grave risks to civilians, the environment, and regional and international security.

The ministers reaffirmed the UAE’s full and legitimate right to respond in a way that protects its sovereignty, territorial integrity, and the safety of its citizens and residents. Sheikh Abdullah expressed appreciation for the solidarity shown by brotherly nations and said all residents and visitors across the UAE remain safe.

GCC chief condemns Barakah drone strike as dangerous escalation threatening regional security

Gulf Cooperation Council Secretary-General Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi strongly condemned the drone attack on the UAE, warning that the strike on the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant represents a dangerous escalation with potentially catastrophic consequences for regional and international security, civilian safety, the environment, and global energy supplies.

He called it a flagrant violation of all international laws governing the protection of nuclear and vital facilities. Albudaiwi reaffirmed full GCC backing for the UAE in all measures it takes to protect its security, stability, and the safety of its citizens and residents.

Trump warns Iran ‘clock is ticking,’ urges swift action or face total destruction

President Donald Trump issued a stark warning to Iran on Truth Social, saying time is running out and that if Tehran does not act quickly, there will be nothing left of the country. He urged Iran to move fast, stressing that time is of the essence.

UAE calls drone strike on Barakah nuclear plant a dangerous escalation, reserves right to respond

The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the drone strike on an electrical generator outside the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant in Al Dhafra as a dangerous escalation and an unacceptable act of aggression.

The ministry said targeting peaceful nuclear facilities violates international law, the UN Charter, and humanitarian principles, given the grave risks such attacks pose to civilians, the environment, and regional and international security.

The UAE stressed it will not tolerate any threat to its sovereignty under any circumstances and reserves its full sovereign, legal, diplomatic, and military rights to respond. It called for an immediate halt to all unprovoked attacks and full compliance with a cessation of hostilities.

Iran’s foreign ministry accuses U.S. and Israel of manufacturing crisis to justify war

Esmaeil Baqaei, Head of Center for Public Diplomacy and Spokesperson Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Islamic Republic of Iran rejected claims that the U.S. and Israel are acting to preserve energy market stability, calling it the latest justification for what he described as an illegal war of choice.

He argued it was American and Israeli military aggression that derailed diplomacy and deliberately destabilized vital energy routes, before turning around and blaming Iran for the disruption.

Baqaei invoked a Nazi propaganda tactic to describe the approach – accusing others of what you yourself are doing – and said the familiar pattern is to manufacture a crisis, then escalate further under the banner of restoring peace. He closed with a line from the Roman historian Tacitus: “They create a desolation and call it peace.”

UAE businessman urges Iran to reckon with its own destructive policies

Khalaf Ahmad Al Habtoor questioned whether Iran’s leadership truly understands the damage its policies inflict on its own people and its neighbors, and whether officials grasp the suffering ordinary Iranians endure while resources are squandered on conflict.

He argued that the GCC countries of today are a formidable economic, military, and developmental force – vastly different from what they were decades ago – and have earned global respect by choosing development, stability, and openness.

Al Habtoor lamented that Iran, once a civilisation with deep historical ties to the Arab world, is now associated in many Arab countries with destruction, interference, and the fomenting of chaos rather than cooperation and good neighborliness.

He called on Tehran to honestly confront its mistakes and recognise that genuine respect between nations begins with respecting others’ sovereignty and working toward stability rather than disorder.

UAE presidential adviser calls Barakah drone strike a dangerous escalation defying international law

Dr. Anwar Gargash, Diplomatic Adviser to the UAE President, condemned the drone strike on the Barakah nuclear plant as a dangerous and criminal escalation that violates international law and shows contempt for civilian lives in the UAE and the surrounding region.

He said the attack – whether carried out directly or through a proxy – reflects the broader threat posed by forces of chaos and destruction in the region.

Gargash warned that no one will succeed in bending the UAE’s will or undermining its vision of security, stability, and prosperity.

IAEA chief warns military activity near nuclear plants is unacceptable after Barakah drone strike

The International Atomic Energy Agency confirmed that radiation levels at the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant remain normal following a drone strike that sparked a fire in a generator outside the plant’s perimeter. Emergency diesel generators are currently powering unit 3.

IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi expressed grave concern over the incident, warning that military activity threatening nuclear safety is unacceptable and reiterating his call for maximum restraint near any nuclear facility to prevent the risk of a nuclear accident.

The agency said it is monitoring the situation closely and remains in contact with UAE authorities, ready to assist if needed.

UAE intercepts two drones, third hits Barakah nuclear plant perimeter

The UAE Ministry of Defence said three UAVs entered the country from the western border on May 17, 2026. Two were successfully shot down, while the third struck an electrical generator outside the inner perimeter of the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant in Al Dhafra. Investigations are underway to determine the origin of the attack, with further details to follow. The ministry said it remains fully prepared to confront any threat to the country’s sovereignty and security.

Drone strike sparks fire at Barakah nuclear plant perimeter, no radiation risk

Abu Dhabi authorities said a drone strike ignited a fire in an electrical generator outside the outer perimeter of the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant in the Al Dhafra Region. No injuries were reported, and the Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation confirmed there was no impact on radiological safety, with all reactor units continuing to operate normally. Authorities urged the public to rely only on official sources and avoid spreading unverified information.

Britain commits £115m and warships to multinational Strait of Hormuz mission

Britain is deploying autonomous mine-hunting equipment, counter-drone systems, Typhoon jets, and HMS Dragon as part of a multinational defensive mission to restore freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, backed by £115 million in new funding.

Defence Secretary John Healey announced the package during a virtual summit of over 40 nations, reaffirming UK leadership including command of a multinational headquarters.

The Royal Navy’s modular “Beehive” system will deploy high-speed autonomous Kraken drone boats to detect and neutralize threats, while HMS Dragon – already en route to the Middle East – carries the advanced Sea Viper counter-drone system. The mission, strictly defensive in nature, aims to restore confidence for commercial shipping along a waterway through which a fifth of the world’s oil passes.

UAE National Media Office chief: Sovereignty is non-negotiable, Iran attacks met with deterrence and resolve

UAE National Media Office head Abdulla bin Mohamed bin Butti Al Hamed said protecting sovereignty is an existential priority for the UAE that allows no compromise, adding that the country cannot be drawn into chaos or have its patience tested on matters of national security.

He described the UAE’s response to Iranian attacks on civilian infrastructure as a model of crisis management that blended diplomatic flexibility with firm defensive readiness.

Al Hamed said the UAE’s coordination with GCC partners and the broader international community sends a clear message that regional stability is inseparable, and that real peace can only be secured by states capable of deterrence.

He added that amid pressure and false accusations, the UAE stands as a stabilizing force whose independent decision-making remains its strongest shield.

UAE says OPEC exit is a sovereign economic decision, not a political one

Suhail Mohamed Al Mazrouei, Minister of Energy and Infrastructure said the country’s decision to leave OPEC and OPEC+ stems purely from its long-term economic vision, growing energy capacity, and national interest – not politics.

He stressed the move followed a thorough review of production policy and future output potential, and denied it signals any rift with partner nations, reaffirming the UAE’s commitment to global energy market stability.

Iran’s parliament speaker says nation’s resistance is reshaping global order

Iranian parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf claimed that Iran’s 70-day resistance against U.S. and Israeli strikes has hastened a global power shift, echoing Chinese President Xi Jinping’s remarks about an accelerating world transformation. He declared the future belongs to the Global South.