US-Israel war on Iran: Abu Dhabi responds to Barakah plant fire after drone strike; Bahrain declares highest level of military readiness

The UN atomic watchdog, the IAEA, on Sunday expressed "grave concern" over a drone strike near a United Arab Emirates nuclear plant that triggered a fire, though it said that radiation levels remained normal.

The International Atomic Energy Agency on X said its head, Rafael Grossi, voiced the concern and added: "Military activity that threatens nuclear safety is unacceptable."

"The IAEA has been informed by the UAE that radiation levels at the Barakah NPP (nuclear power plant) remain normal and no injuries were reported," the agency said.

FIFA secretary general Mattias Grafstrom described as "excellent" and "constructive" the meeting held on Saturday in Istanbul with the Iranian federation to ensure Iran's participation in the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

The Iranians are scheduled to be based and play all three of their group matches in the US in spite of the war currently being waged in the Middle East.

"We've had an excellent meeting, a constructive meeting together with the Iran FA," said Grafstrom.

"I think we're working closely together and looking very much forward to welcoming them to the World Cup.

"We've had the opportunity to discuss some of the operational matters, like we do with every member association.

"But I'm very happy that we were able to have this positive exchange, and both the Iran FA and FIFA are very happy with the meeting and looking forward to welcoming Team Melli in the USA, Canada and Mexico."

The president of the Iranian Football Federation, Mehdi Taj, had said on Thursday that no visas had yet been issued for Iran's team.

Iranian media on Sunday said the United States failed to make any concrete concessions in its response to Iran's proposal for negotiations to end the war.

Fars news agency said Washington gave a five-point list which included a demand for Iran to keep only one nuclear site in operation and transfer its stockpile of highly enriched uranium to the United States.

Mehr news agency meanwhile said: "The United States, offering no tangible concessions, wants to obtain concessions that it failed to obtain during the war, which will lead to an impasse in the negotiations."

Authorities in Abu Dhabi responded to a fire incident that broke out in an electrical generator outside the inner perimeter of the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant in the Al Dhafra Region, caused by a drone strike.

No injuries were reported, and there was no impact on radiological safety levels. All precautionary measures have been taken, and further updates will be provided as they become available.

The Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation (FANR) confirmed that the fire did not affect the safety of the power plant or the readiness of its essential systems, and that all units are operating as normal.

The public is reminded to obtain information from official sources only, and to avoid spreading rumours or unverified information.

South Korea and Iran will maintain open communication to ensure maritime safety in the Strait of Hormuz, according to South Korea’s foreign ministry, as reported by Reuters.

The move comes amid heightened concerns over recent security incidents in the region.

Seoul raises concerns over ship attack

South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun raised concerns over a recent attack on a South Korean cargo vessel near the Strait of Hormuz during a phone call with his Iranian counterpart on Sunday, Seoul’s foreign ministry said.

Officials in Seoul have previously indicated that the likelihood of a third party being responsible for the incident, rather than Iran, is considered low.

Focus on maritime security

Both sides agreed to keep diplomatic channels open to prevent further escalation and ensure the safety of commercial shipping passing through the strategic waterway.

The Task Force on the Establishment of a National Crisis and Disaster Management Center (AMAN) held a virtual meeting with Jordan’s National Center for Security and Crisis Management to exchange expertise and review institutional best practices.

According to a statement cited by the Kuwait News Agency (KUNA), the meeting focused on coordination mechanisms adopted by the Jordanian centre, along with discussions on improving preparedness, risk management and response speed during emergencies and crises.

The two sides also explored avenues for cooperation and knowledge-sharing to support the development of an integrated national framework for crisis and disaster management.

The AMAN task force, operating under the Council of Ministers, is responsible for establishing a comprehensive national system for emergency management, unifying efforts and enhancing readiness and response capabilities.

FIFA Secretary General Mattias Grafstrom has described a meeting with the Iranian Football Federation in Istanbul as “excellent” and “constructive,” as discussions continue over Iran’s participation in the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

Iran is expected to base itself in the US and play all three of its Group G matches there, despite ongoing geopolitical tensions in the region.

Grafstrom said both sides discussed operational matters ahead of the tournament and expressed optimism about Iran’s participation, adding that FIFA looks forward to welcoming “Team Melli.”

Iran Football Federation president Mehdi Taj also called the talks “positive and constructive,” while noting earlier concerns that no visas had yet been issued for the team.

The General Command of the Bahrain Defence Force (BDF) has announced that all its services and units are operating at the highest level of readiness and full defensive preparedness.

The command said it is proud of the advanced combat readiness and vigilance shown by its personnel in carrying out their national duty to defend the Kingdom and safeguard its achievements.

The BDF urged the public to exercise caution and avoid approaching or handling any unfamiliar or suspicious objects that may result from attacks.

It said the Royal Field Engineering Unit remains fully prepared to deal with such objects safely, ensuring the protection of citizens and residents.

Israeli strikes targeted eastern and southern Lebanon on Sunday, state media reported, despite a fragile ceasefire, as a Hezbollah lawmaker called Lebanon's negotiations with Israel a "dead-end".

Two Israeli strikes hit the town of Sohmor in eastern Lebanon's Bekaa valley, the state-run National News Agency (NNA) said, adding that others took place across southern Lebanon.

Israeli attacks since the start of the war have killed more than 2,900 people in Lebanon, including more than 400 since the truce began on April 17, according to Lebanese authorities.

The latest strikes came after envoys from Israel and Lebanon held a third round of negotiations in Washington and agreed to extend the ceasefire.

Nevertheless, fighting has continued, with Israeli strikes and Hezbollah attacks on Israeli forces.

Iran-backed Hezbollah has repeatedly denounced talks with Israel.

"The direct negotiations that the authorities in Lebanon have conducted with the Israeli enemy have... led them down a dead-end path that will result in nothing but one concession after another," Hezbollah lawmaker Hussein Hajj Hassan said on Sunday.

"Neither they nor anyone else will be able to carry out what the enemy wants, especially when it comes to the issue of disarming the resistance," he said, adding that the authorities are bringing the country to "very big predicaments".

Iran has appointed chief negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf to oversee relations with China, media reports said, in a move that signals Tehran’s push to deepen strategic ties with Beijing amid continuing geopolitical tensions and economic pressure from the West.

A Suezmax tanker carrying Iraqi crude has reportedly crossed the Strait of Hormuz and is now heading towards India, according to Bloomberg.

The vessel, identified as Karolos, was seen in the Gulf of Oman after passing through the Strait in recent days, showing a draft indicating it is fully loaded.

Ship-tracking data from Kpler indicates the tanker was loaded with Iraqi crude at Basra on May 10–11, with satellite imagery from the European Union’s Sentinel-2 also showing a vessel matching its specifications at a Basra loading terminal.

US Federal Reserve is likely to drop its easing bias at the next FOMC meeting and shift toward a tighter stance through 2026, with a 20% chance of a 25 bps hike in December if energy prices spike due to a closed Strait of Hormuz, Elara Securities said.

The brokerage said inflation risks now outweigh labour market concerns, leading it to withdraw earlier expectations of rate cuts and instead forecast policy rates to remain on hold through CY26.

Elara also raised its US inflation outlook, citing higher energy, food and tariff-driven pressures, and said persistent inflation could push the Fed toward a tightening bias if price levels remain elevated for a sustained period.

Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf on Sunday said the international system is “at the cusp of a new order,” arguing that long-standing Western dominance is rapidly weakening.

In a post on X, he said global transformations highlighted by Chinese President Xi Jinping are accelerating, adding that Iran’s “resistance” over the past 70 days has further sped up this geopolitical shift, which he said favours the Global South.

Ghalibaf described Iran’s recent stance against US and Israeli pressure as a catalyst for change, stating that “the future belongs to the Global South.”

The United States has approved a nearly $1 billion modernisation programme to upgrade its F-35 Lightning II stealth fighter fleet, enhancing electronic warfare systems and combat capabilities for both domestic forces and allied operators.

Under a Pentagon contract, Lockheed Martin will supply 432 modification kits covering aircraft operated by the US Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps, along with foreign military sales customers and partner nations.

The upgrades form part of the F-35 Block 4 programme, which includes more than 70 improvements aimed at boosting missile capacity, sensor fusion, target recognition and survivability in contested airspace.

Iran has said it will no longer allow what it described as “enemy” military equipment to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, signalling a tougher stance on maritime security in the strategic waterway.

Iran’s First Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref said Tehran would assert greater control over the passage, claiming that weapons previously allowed through the strait had been used against Iran.

The remarks come amid heightened regional tensions and renewed focus on security in one of the world’s most critical energy and shipping corridors.

Israel says it has carried out strikes on around 100 Hezbollah targets in Lebanon since Friday, despite the ongoing ceasefire.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said the operations were launched in response to what it described as Hezbollah attacks involving “hostile aircraft, mortar shells and explosive drones” near Israeli troops in southern Lebanon over the past 24 hours.

In retaliation, Israel said it targeted observation posts, weapons storage sites and other infrastructure linked to Hezbollah. The military also confirmed additional strikes in the southern city of Tyre on Friday.

The developments highlight continued volatility along the Israel–Lebanon border, where tensions remain high despite ceasefire arrangements.

Iran's World Cup squad will travel to Turkey for a training camp, friendlies and to complete visa applications before heading to the United States, head coach Amir Ghalenoei said on Saturday.

Team Melli will be returning to Antalya where they trained and played friendlies in March.

They are taking a squad of 30 players, which will have to be trimmed to the World Cup maximum of 26. Perhaps the best known is 33-year-old former Porto striker Mehdi Taremi, now with Olympiacos.

"Selecting 30 players for this final training camp ahead of the World Cup was the most difficult technical decision of my coaching career," Ghalenoei told the Iranian football federation website, adding that he had selected players solely on "technical criteria".

Iran hope to play two friendlies in Antalya. They have already confirmed one match, against Gambia, on May 29, said Sam Mehdizadeh, an Iranian-Canadian who heads a company that sets up friendlies for the team.

"No visas have been issued yet," Mehdi Taj, the Iranian football federation head, told Iranian media on Thursday.

Taj said players were expected to undergo fingerprinting in Turkey as part of the visa process but wished to avoid a trip of more than 450 kilometres (280 miles) from Antalya to Ankara.

Taj is expected to hold talks with FIFA president Gianni Infantino as Tehran seeks assurances for its squad amid tensions increased by the ongoing war.

When the squad reaches the US, Iran will set up their base camp in Tucson, Arizona. They are due to kick off their World Cup campaign against New Zealand in Los Angeles on 15 June, before facing Belgium in the same city and then Egypt in Seattle, in Group G.

Iran has strongly condemned Israel following the reported killing of Hamas Qassam Brigades leader Izz Al Din al Haddad in Gaza, describing the incident as a “terrorist act”.

According to Iran’s Foreign Ministry, the strike targeted Gaza City’s Remal neighbourhood on Friday and also resulted in the deaths of several civilians, including al-Haddad’s wife and daughter.

The ministry said such actions reflect Israel’s “desperation” and constitute ongoing violations in Gaza, adding that they will not weaken Palestinian resistance movements.

The United Kingdom has deployed a new low-cost anti-drone capability on Royal Air Force aircraft operating in the Middle East, aimed at strengthening defence against unmanned aerial threats in the region.

According to an official statement, the Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS) will be integrated into RAF Typhoon fighter jets. The system is designed to engage and destroy drone targets with high precision at a significantly lower cost compared with traditional missile systems.

The move comes amid sustained regional tensions, including repeated drone and missile attacks attributed to Iran on several Gulf states.

India has raised strong concerns over disruptions to maritime security in the Strait of Hormuz, warning that targeting commercial shipping and endangering civilian crews is unacceptable under international law.

India’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Parvathaneni Harish, outlined New Delhi’s position at a Special Meeting of the UN Economic and Social Council (UN ECOSOC) focused on safeguarding global energy and supply chains amid the ongoing West Asia conflict.

He stressed that the region’s escalating energy and fertiliser crisis requires a balanced response combining immediate relief measures with long-term structural solutions, backed by strong international cooperation.

Reiterating India’s position on maritime safety, Harish highlighted that freedom of navigation in critical sea lanes such as the Strait of Hormuz must be protected and fully aligned with international law. He warned that any obstruction to commercial shipping risks worsening global supply chain vulnerabilities at a time of heightened energy insecurity.

India’s intervention comes as global markets continue to face pressure from geopolitical tensions affecting key energy routes and fertiliser flows, underscoring calls for coordinated global action.

The Trump administration has not extended the sanctions waiver that facilitated increased sales of Russian oil.

The waiver expired at 12:01 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time on May 16, and the US Treasury Department has not issued an extension, according to the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) website.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent had previously said there were no plans to renew the authorization.

The temporary license, first renewed on April 17, had allowed countries to continue purchasing Russian oil cargoes stranded at sea despite broader US sanctions.

US President Donald Trump has shared an AI-generated image suggesting heightened tensions with Iran, amid reports that the conflict could potentially escalate again.

The graphic shows Trump alongside a US Navy admiral standing before stormy seas, with multiple military vessels in the background, including one reportedly displaying the flag of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

The image carries the caption: “It was calm before the storm,” a phrase widely associated with signalling impending escalation.

The post comes amid growing speculation over the possibility of renewed hostilities involving Iran, following months of heightened regional tensions and military activity in the Gulf and surrounding waters.

Hezbollah said Saturday it struck a military target in northern Israel, as the fragile ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel has not stopped fighting in the war that began on March 2.

In a statement, the Iran-backed militant group said its fighters targeted "the Ya'ara barracks... with a swarm of attack drones", after announcing multiple operations against Israeli forces in southern Lebanon, where they are occupying territory near the border between the two countries.

Lana Nusseibeh, UAE Minister of State, met International Maritime Organization (IMO) Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez to discuss rising security threats to vessels and seafarers in the Strait of Hormuz and the Arabian Gulf. The talks focused on reported attacks, risks to maritime navigation, and the need to restore safe and uninterrupted shipping routes.

The UAE reiterated its support for the IMO and international maritime law, stressing the importance of freedom of navigation and condemning threats to commercial shipping, which it described as a form of economic coercion that endangers regional and global stability.

Both sides also discussed ongoing international efforts to protect seafarers, maintain maritime security, and ensure the continued flow of global trade, particularly energy supplies passing through the strategic waterway.

Day 78: Iran plans new Strait of Hormuz toll system

Day 77: Israel and Lebanon extend ceasefire by 45 days: US

Day 76: World leaders call for security in Strait of Hormuz

Day 75: Trump arrives in Beijing for summit with Xi

Day 74: Iran signals potential 90% Uranium enrichment

Day 73: Trump calls Iranian response 'totally unacceptable'

Day 72: 'As of today, Tehran’s restraint is over': Iran official

Day 71: Iran keeps US waiting on response to peace plan

Day 70: US fires on Iran tankers as talks hang in balance

Day 69: Iran creates agency to control shipping at the Strait of Hormuz

Day 68: Trump threatens 'higher level' bombing of Iran if deal not agreed

Day 67: 'Project Freedom' paused 'for a short period': Trump

Day 66: UAE intercepts 12 ballistic missiles, 3 cruise missiles, 4 drones