UAE, Saudi foreign ministers discuss Barakah nuclear plant attack

Iran’s pop diva and national icon Googoosh received the Ellis Island Medal of Honor as one of 76 honorees recognized this year for contributions in fields including entertainment, public service, media and philanthropy.

“I dedicate this medal with love and respect to the people of Iran,” Googoosh said on Instagram.

She described Iranians as a people who had endured years of “suffering, patience, hope and dignity.”

Three empty US-sanctioned tankers slipped through the US Navy blockade line on Iran and entered the perimeter in recent days, maritime intelligence company Tanker Trackers said on Sunday.

“Together, they can lift 1.9 million barrels of Iranian oil,” the company said.

TankerTrackers said one vessel briefly turned off AIS, another was Russian-flagged and a third hugged the Omani coastline.

Qatar’s prime minister and foreign minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani held a phone call with Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi to discuss efforts to end the crisis and support regional stability, Qatar’s foreign ministry said.

During the call Al Thani told Araghchi that “closing the Strait of Hormuz or using it as a bargaining chip would only deepen the crisis and expose the vital interests of the region's countries to danger," according to Qatar's foreign ministry.

He also stressed “the importance of adhering to the rules of international law and the principles of good neighborliness,” prioritizing the interests of the region and its peoples, and supporting de-escalation efforts.

UAE presidential adviser Anwar Gargash said the “terrorist targeting” of the Barakah nuclear energy plant was a dangerous escalation that violated international law.

Gargash said the attack, whether carried out by the “principal actor” or through one of its proxies, showed “criminal disregard” for civilian lives in the UAE and the surrounding area.

“No one will twist the UAE’s arm,” Gargash said in a post on X.

Qatar condemned the drone attack on the United Arab Emirates that targeted the Barakah nuclear power plant, calling it a “blatant violation” of international law and a serious threat to regional security and stability.

The attack “crossed all red lines” by targeting vital facilities and civilian infrastructure, Qatar’s foreign ministry said in a statement.

Qatar expressed “full solidarity with the United Arab Emirates and its support for all measures it takes to preserve its sovereignty, security and the safety of its facilities,” the ministry added.