Gulf States Report Drone Attacks as Fragile US-Iran Ceasefire Strains
Al Jazeera Staff
Qatar reported a drone strike on a cargo vessel in its waters, while Kuwait and the UAE intercepted hostile drones, heightening tensions around the US-Iran ceasefire. The fragile truce, in effect since April 8, faces new pressure as naval skirmishes continue in the Gulf. Diplomatic efforts by Qatar and others seek to de-escalate the situation as Iran warns of a decisive response to any aggression.
Fragile ceasefire in the conflict between the US and Israel with Iran is under mounting pressure as several Gulf states report drone attacks.
Qatar's Ministry of Defense said Sunday that a drone struck a cargo vessel in Qatari waters, sparking a fire. The ship was en route from the UAE capital Abu Dhabi to Mesaieed port. The blaze was contained and the vessel continued to its destination. No casualties were reported.
Kuwait's Defense Ministry reported detecting a number of hostile drones in its airspace early Sunday and dealt with them according to procedure, without specifying their origin.
The UAE Defense Ministry said it successfully intercepted two Iranian drones. “The UAE air defense system engaged two UAVs launched from Iran,” the ministry stated.
Though no casualties have been reported, the attacks are straining the ceasefire that took effect on April 8. The administration of President Donald Trump insists the ceasefire remains in place, but naval skirmishes continue in the Gulf as Iran restricts traffic through the Strait of Hormuz and the US enforces a blockade of Iranian ports.
On Friday, the US struck two Iranian oil tankers, accusing them of trying to break the blockade. On Tuesday, the UAE said it was hit by missiles and drones from Iran for a second straight day, though Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) denied the claim.
Diplomats say the attacks are linked to Tehran's strategic calculations to pressure adversaries amid stalled negotiations on a nuclear deal and lifting the blockade.
Ebrahim Rezaei, spokesperson for the Iranian Parliament's National Security and Foreign Policy Committee, warned that Tehran's “restraint has ended.” On social media platform X, he wrote: “Any act of aggression against our vessels will be met with a heavy and decisive response targeting US ships and bases. The clock is ticking against American interests; the best course is surrender and concessions. You must get used to the new regional order.”
On the diplomatic front, Tehran is still weighing its response to Washington's 14-point proposal, with key issues including frozen Iranian assets and war reparations. On Saturday, Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani met with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and urged all sides to respond to mediation efforts.
The Qatari PM also held a phone call with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, in which he said Iran using the Strait of Hormuz as a “bargaining chip” would only deepen the Gulf crisis, and called on parties to respond to mediation to end the war.
In Tehran, President Masoud Pezeshkian said at a meeting on post-war reconstruction that negotiations with the US to end the war do not mean surrender. “The goal is to realize the rights of the Iranian people and protect national interests with authority,” he said.
Meanwhile, according to Al Jazeera's correspondent in Tehran, Iranians have mixed feelings. On one hand, they gather to express nationalist spirit and support for the government, but on the other, there is frustration over soaring prices and economic hardship.
