UAE says air defenses intercept two drones launched from Iran

Iran’s state media reported on Sunday that Ali Abdollahi, commander of Khatam al-Anbiya joint military command, met Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, who has not been seen publicly since the strikes that killed his father and reportedly wounded him.

Abdollahi spoke to Khamenei about the readiness of armed forces, including the army, the Islamic Revolutionary Guards, police, security and border forces, the defense ministry and Basij members, according to the report.

Khamenei reportedly thanked the armed forces and issued "new guiding measures to pursue military operations and firmly confront adversaries."

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said on Sunday that calls for dialogue or negotiations did not mean surrender or retreat.

He added that the aim was to secure the rights of the people and defend national interests with strength.

“If there is talk of dialogue or negotiations, it does not mean surrender or retreat; rather, the goal is to secure the rights of the Iranian people and firmly defend national interests,” he said.

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani discussed the regional situation and ongoing peace efforts in a phone call, Pakistan’s prime minister’s office said on Sunday.

Sharif thanked Qatar for its support for Pakistan’s peace initiatives, the statement said.

He also said he looked forward to the upcoming visit of Qatar’s emir to Pakistan.

A commercial cargo vessel in Qatar’s territorial waters northeast of Mesaieed Port was targeted by a drone on Sunday morning, causing a limited fire but no injuries, Qatar’s defense ministry said.

The ministry said the vessel, which was coming from Abu Dhabi, continued toward Mesaieed Port after the fire was brought under control.

It said necessary measures had been taken in coordination with relevant authorities.

Kuwait’s armed forces detected several hostile drones in Kuwaiti airspace at dawn and dealt with them under approved procedures, the defense ministry spokesman said on Sunday.

Colonel Saud Abdulaziz Al-Atwan said the armed forces were fully ready to protect the country’s security and the safety of citizens and residents.