Donald Trump renewed his threats against Iran on Sunday, warning that “nothing will remain” of the country if Tehran fails to quickly reach an agreement with the United States.
The latest escalation comes more than two months after the start of the US-Israeli war against the Islamic Republic, while a drone strike near a nuclear facility in the United Arab Emirates added to fears of wider regional instability.
Posting on Truth Social, Trump said “the clock is ticking” for Iran and warned the country to “act fast”. The two sides have not held direct talks since their unsuccessful meeting in Pakistan in mid-April.
The US President also rejected Tehran’s latest proposal to end the conflict, calling it “completely unacceptable”.
Oil prices rise as fears grow
The growing tensions with Iran pushed oil prices higher in Asian markets early Monday, with Brent crude rising above $110 per barrel.
Finance ministers from the G7 are due to meet in Paris today and Tuesday to discuss the economic impact of the war and the instability spreading across the Middle East.
Before Trump’s latest comments, Tehran had already issued a fresh warning to Washington.
Iranian armed forces spokesman Abolfazl Shekarchi warned that if Iran faced another attack, US forces and resources would face “unprecedented and turbulent scenarios”.
Iranian Parliament Vice-President Hamid-Reza Haji Babaee also warned that any attack on Iranian oil facilities would trigger retaliatory strikes on oil infrastructure across the region.
Drone strike near UAE nuclear site
Across the Gulf, a fire broke out on Sunday after a drone strike near the Barakah nuclear power plant in the United Arab Emirates.
Authorities said the incident caused no injuries and radiation levels remained normal, but described it as a “dangerous escalation”. Saudi Arabia called the attack a threat to regional security and stability.
Two additional drones were intercepted, according to the UAE Defence Ministry.
A presidential adviser in the UAE condemned what he described as a “terrorist” attack, appearing to suggest Iranian involvement without naming Tehran directly.
The International Atomic Energy Agency expressed “deep concern” over the incident.
Saudi Arabia also announced that it intercepted three drones entering from Iraqi airspace late Sunday.
Diplomacy efforts continue
Despite the escalating violence, diplomatic efforts remain under way.
Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi met in Tehran with senior Iranian negotiator and Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, as Islamabad continues attempts to mediate between the sides.
However, Ghalibaf criticised the US military presence in the region, arguing that recent events proved it was “a source of insecurity” rather than protection.
Iranian media also claimed Washington had made “no tangible concessions” in response to Tehran’s latest proposals.
According to Iranian news agencies, the US demanded long-term restrictions on Iran’s nuclear programme, including limiting operations to a single nuclear facility and transferring highly enriched uranium stockpiles to the United States.
Deadly strikes continue in Lebanon
On another front in the conflict, new Israeli air strikes in Lebanon killed seven people despite the extension of a fragile ceasefire announced by the US on Friday.
The victims included a senior member of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad movement and his 17-year-old daughter.
An Israeli military official said Hezbollah launched around 200 projectiles against Israel and Israeli troops in Lebanon over the weekend.
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