DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — A drone attack caused a fire near the border of the United Arab Emirates' only nuclear power plant on Sunday, according to officials who described it as an "unprovoked act of terrorism." No group has been held responsible, yet the incident underscored the potential for renewed conflict as the United States and Iran indicated they are prepared to engage in combat once more.
No injuries or radiation leaks were reported. The UAE, which has provided air defense systems and personnel for Israel, recently blamed Iran for conducting drone and missile attacks. Escalating tensions in the Strait of Hormuz, a critical energy route controlled by Iran, are occurring amid a U.S. naval embargo.
"Time is running out for Iran, and they need to act quickly, or there will be nothing left of them," U.S. President Donald Trump tweeted on social media just after speaking with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, whose strike on Iran in conjunction with the U.S. ignited the conflict on February 28.
Trump has consistently established deadlines for Tehran and subsequently retreated from them.
"The military of our armed forces has its fingers on the trigger, while diplomatic efforts are also ongoing," said Mohsen Rezaei, a military advisor to Iran's supreme leader, on state television.
The truce is still fragile, as attempts to achieve a more lasting peace have failed. Meanwhile, hostilities have intensified between Israel and the Iran-supported Hezbollah militant group in Lebanon, even though a formal ceasefire is in place.
The Barakah facility can supply a quarter of the UAE's power needs.The UAE Ministry of Defense reported that three drones crossed its western border near Saudi Arabia, while the remaining two were shot down. It is currently looking into who was responsible for launching them. Iran and allied Shiite groups in Iraq have carried out drone attacks aimed at Gulf Arab nations as part of the ongoing conflict.
"Whether executed by the main actor or via one of its proxies, the attack signifies a hazardous increase in tension," said Anwar Gargash, a diplomatic advisor to the UAE president, on social media.
Saudi Arabia criticized the attack and subsequently stated that it had detected three drones that entered from Iraqi airspace.
The Barakah nuclear power station, valued at $20 billion, was constructed by the United Arab Emirates with assistance from South Korea and became operational in 2020. It is the sole nuclear power facility in the Arab region and can supply a quarter of the energy requirements for the UAE, which is composed of seven emirates and includes Dubai.
The United Arab Emirates' nuclear regulatory authority stated that the fire did not impact the plant's safety and mentioned that "all units are functioning as usual." The International Atomic Energy Agency, the United Nations' nuclear monitoring body, reported that the attack led to a fire in an electrical generator, with one reactor being supplied by backup diesel generators.
This is the first instance in which the four-reactor Barakah facility has been attacked during the conflict. Yemen's Iran-supported Houthi rebels, against whom the UAE has fought as part of a Saudi-led alliance, asserted they had struck the site while it was still being built in 2017, a claim that Abu Dhabi rejected.
The United Arab Emirates' nuclear initiative varies from those of Iran and Israel.The United Arab Emirates entered into a stringent agreement with the United States regarding the nuclear power plant, referred to as a "123 agreement," in which it committed to not engage in local uranium enrichment or processing of used fuel to address potential proliferation issues. The country's uranium is sourced from outside its borders.
That's significantly different from Iran's nuclear program, which has been a central source of ongoing conflict between the United States and Israel.
Iran claims its program is intended for peaceful use, but it has enriched uranium to nearly weapons-grade levels and is widely believed to have maintained a military aspect to its efforts up until at least 2003. It has frequently limited the activities of U.N. inspectors, including since the 12-day conflict with Israel last year.
Israel is commonly thought to be the sole nation in the area with nuclear capabilities, although it has not officially acknowledged or rejected possessing atomic weapons. During the conflict, Iran targeted an area close to Israel's Dimona nuclear site.
Nuclear facilities have become more frequent targets in conflicts in recent years, such as during Russia's large-scale invasion of Ukraine that started in 2022. In the Iran conflict, Tehran repeatedly stated that its Bushehr nuclear power plant was attacked, although there was no direct harm to the reactor operated by Russia or any release of radioactive materials.
Ceasefire appears increasingly shakyIsrael is working with the U.S. on the potential restart of attacks, according to two individuals who are aware of the matter, including an Israeli military official. They requested anonymity as they were talking about classified military plans.
Speaking to his Cabinet on Sunday, Netanyahu stated, "our eyes are also open" regarding Iran, and "we are ready for any situation."
On Iranian state television, anchors on at least two channels were seen carrying weapons during live broadcasts.
One of the individuals, Hossein Hosseini, underwent fundamental gun training conducted by a masked member of the paramilitary Revolutionary Guard. Hosseini acted out shooting at the flag of the UAE.
On a different channel, Mobina Nasiri stated that a weapon was sent to her from an event held in Tehran's Vanak Square. "From this platform, I declare that I am willing to give my life for this country," she mentioned.
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Magdy provided coverage from Cairo. Contributions were made by Associated Press journalists Amir Vahdat in Tehran, Iran, and Sam Mednick in Tel Aviv, Israel.
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