Top Story

US President Donald Trump has said that any future civilian nuclear agreement between the United States and Saudi Arabia will depend on the kingdom joining the Abraham Accords, the US-backed agreements aimed at normalising relations with Israel. Trump said Washington has no objection to Saudi Arabia developing civilian nuclear facilities as long as they are used only for peaceful purposes. He stressed that the proposed cooperation would focus on non-military nuclear energy, similar to civilian programmes in other countries. The proposed agreement would allow Saudi Arabia to enrich uranium and develop nuclear reactors with American technology. However, the deal reportedly does not require Riyadh to accept additional international inspections that are designed to detect undeclared nuclear activities. The absence of these extra safeguards has drawn attention because similar measures have been considered important in previous nuclear agreements. Saudi Arabia has been working for years to establish a civilian nuclear programme as part of its broader economic diversification strategy. The kingdom says nuclear energy will help reduce dependence on oil and meet future energy demand. Saudi leaders have also stated in the past that if Iran were to develop nuclear weapons, Riyadh would seek the same capability to maintain the regional balance. The latest remarks come as tensions between the United States and Iran continue to intensify. Iran’s Foreign Ministry warned American military personnel against carrying out attacks on civilian infrastructure. Tehran said targeting facilities such as bridges and power plants could amount to war crimes under international law. Iranian officials argued that following military orders would not protect individuals from legal responsibility if unlawful attacks were carried out. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Washington’s main objective remains preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons. He accused Tehran of repeatedly violating agreements and said the Iranian government continues to support armed groups across the Middle East instead of focusing on its economy and people. Rubio also urged Yemen’s Houthi movement to avoid becoming more deeply involved in the conflict. He warned that further attacks could increase instability across the region and create additional security challenges. At the same time, Oman announced that it is working with Saudi Arabia, the United Nations and other regional partners to restart Yemen’s political peace process. Muscat called on all sides to avoid further escalation in the Red Sea and to protect international shipping routes. The Houthis claimed responsibility for missile and drone attacks on two Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea. The group said the strikes were part of its maritime blockade campaign. Saudi authorities confirmed that one tanker was damaged and caught fire after the attack, while the status of the second vessel remained unclear. The attacks have raised fresh concerns about the security of one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes. Several commercial oil tankers have reportedly changed their routes to avoid the Red Sea, increasing transportation costs and raising fears of further disruption to global energy supplies. Elsewhere in the region, Bahrain activated emergency warning sirens following reports of a possible Iranian attack. Authorities urged residents to remain calm and move to safe locations while monitoring the situation. Jordan also said its air defence systems intercepted several missiles and drones approaching its airspace. The Jordanian military confirmed there were no casualties or damage and said security forces remain on high alert. Meanwhile, Iran’s Revolutionary Guard claimed it had carried out attacks on US military facilities in Jordan and Kuwait. The group alleged that it struck missile defence systems, military equipment and logistical sites. There was no immediate confirmation of those claims from either Jordan or Kuwait.

US President Donald Trump is considering launching a new large-scale military operation against Iran, raising fears of a further escalation in tensions across the Middle East. According to reports, the proposed operation could be larger than previous US military strikes carried out against Iranian targets earlier this year. Trump said he was close to making a decision but stressed that no final order had been issued. He said the United States was fully prepared to act if necessary and claimed military plans were already in place. US officials, however, said no formal authorization for a new attack has yet been given. The US president also said Israel could join any future military operation if requested, although he maintained that American forces were capable of carrying out such an operation on their own. Trump accused Iran of refusing to accept the latest diplomatic proposal presented through mediation efforts. He claimed Tehran was delaying negotiations despite increasing military and economic pressure. The remarks came amid continued efforts by international mediators to prevent the conflict from expanding. The US president also warned that Washington would hold Iran directly responsible if Yemen’s Houthi movement launched further attacks on commercial shipping. His warning followed Houthi claims that they had targeted two Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea using missiles and drones. Trump said any future attacks on commercial vessels would trigger a strong military response against both the Houthis and Iran. He accused Tehran of supporting the armed group and said the United States would not tolerate threats to international shipping routes. Iran responded sharply to the US statements. Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei warned American military personnel against targeting civilian infrastructure, saying attacks on facilities such as bridges and power stations would violate international law. He stressed that military personnel remain legally responsible for carrying out unlawful orders. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Washington’s main objective remains preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. He accused Tehran of repeatedly violating previous agreements and said the Iranian leadership continued to support armed groups across the Middle East instead of addressing domestic economic challenges. Rubio also urged Yemen’s Houthis to avoid becoming more deeply involved in the regional conflict. He said further attacks on Saudi Arabia or international shipping would only increase instability and could trigger broader military action. Meanwhile, Oman said it is working with Saudi Arabia, regional partners and the United Nations to revive Yemen’s political peace process. Omani officials called for restraint from all sides and emphasized the importance of protecting freedom of navigation in the Red Sea. Regional tensions continued to grow as Bahrain activated emergency warning sirens following reports of a possible Iranian attack. Authorities advised residents to remain calm and move to safe locations, although no casualties or damage were immediately reported. Jordan’s armed forces also announced that their air defence systems had intercepted several missiles and drones over the past 24 hours. Military officials said three missiles and six drones were destroyed before reaching populated areas, while another missile landed in an uninhabited location without causing damage. The Houthis said they carried out missile and drone attacks on two Saudi oil tankers as part of what they described as a maritime blockade. Shipping companies have already begun changing routes to avoid the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, increasing concerns over global oil supplies and international trade. Iranian military officials warned that if US attacks continue, Tehran will introduce new military strategies designed to make future operations more difficult for its opponents.

The United States carried out fresh air strikes on Iran for the 13th consecutive night, further intensifying the military confrontation between the two countries. The latest attacks came as US President Donald Trump warned that Washington is prepared to launch even larger military operations if Iran continues targeting American interests and regional allies. According to the US military, the strikes targeted facilities linked to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). Officials said the operation was intended to reduce Iran’s military capabilities and protect commercial shipping routes and US forces operating in the Middle East. Reports from Iran said explosions were heard in several parts of the country. Blasts were reported on Qeshm Island as well as in Khuzestan province. Missile strikes were also reported in the cities of Andimeshk and Omidiyeh. In the southern port city of Bandar Abbas, local media reported that attacks on a residential neighbourhood injured at least two civilians. Speaking earlier, President Trump said he was considering the largest military operation against Iran since the conflict began. He stated that preparations were complete and that a final decision could be taken soon if Iran continued its attacks on US allies and military assets in the region. The latest American strikes followed another round of Iranian missile and drone attacks on Bahrain, Kuwait and Jordan. Iranian military officials said the attacks targeted US military facilities stationed in those countries. Tehran described the strikes as retaliation for continued US attacks on Iranian territory and infrastructure. Iran also claimed responsibility for striking a telecommunications tower in Kuwait. Iranian officials said the attack was carried out in response to previous US strikes on communication facilities inside Iran. Kuwaiti authorities later confirmed that hostile drones also targeted the Abdali border crossing with Iraq, raising security concerns along the frontier. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi warned that the country would continue responding to every attack under an “eye for an eye” policy. Military officials said Iran’s retaliatory operations would continue for as long as American forces targeted Iranian infrastructure and coastal areas. The conflict has now spread beyond Iran and the United States, increasing fears of a wider regional war. Yemen’s Houthi movement claimed responsibility for attacks on two Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea. The group warned that additional energy infrastructure could also become a target if the conflict continues. The growing violence has disrupted security across key maritime routes, including the Strait of Hormuz and the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, both of which are among the world’s most important oil shipping corridors. Continued attacks have increased risks to commercial shipping and raised concerns over global energy supplies. The worsening conflict has also pushed international oil prices above $100 per barrel, reflecting fears of prolonged supply disruptions. Analysts warned that further escalation could place additional pressure on the global economy by increasing fuel prices, disrupting trade and creating greater uncertainty in international energy markets.