Trump warns Iran as Gulf tensions rise amid drone attacks and regional strikes

U.S. President Donald Trump has warned that “there won’t be anything left” of Iran if a peace deal is not reached, as tensions continue to escalate in the Middle East following renewed drone attacks on Gulf states and ongoing hostilities involving Iran-aligned groups.

 

In a post on his Truth Social platform on Sunday, Trump said time was running out for Tehran to reach an agreement with Washington, which has been locked in conflict with Iran since joint U.S. and Israeli strikes in late February. The war has disrupted regional stability and contributed to rising global energy prices.

 

“For Iran, the clock is ticking… or there won’t be anything left of them,” Trump wrote, insisting that negotiations must move quickly.

 

Meanwhile, Gulf countries reported fresh security incidents on Sunday. Saudi Arabia said it intercepted three drones entering its airspace from Iraq, while the United Arab Emirates said a drone strike caused a fire at its Barakah Nuclear Power Plant. UAE officials said there were no casualties and no impact on radiation levels.

 

UAE presidential adviser Anwar Gargash condemned the attack, describing it as a “dangerous escalation,” while suggesting involvement of Iran or its allied groups in the region. Tehran has not responded to the allegation.

 

Iran-backed groups in Iraq and Yemen have been accused of using drones in attacks across the region. Although a temporary truce between Washington and Tehran has reduced large-scale strikes since April, isolated attacks have continued.

 

Elsewhere, violence involving Iran’s regional allies has persisted. Hezbollah has continued attacks against Israeli positions in the Israel–Lebanon conflict, despite a ceasefire agreement, prompting further Israeli airstrikes in southern Lebanon that reportedly killed several civilians, according to Lebanese authorities.

 

Diplomatic efforts remain stalled, with both sides trading accusations over demands in ongoing negotiations mediated through Pakistan. Iranian media claim the U.S. has proposed strict nuclear restrictions without offering significant concessions, while Washington insists Tehran must scale down its nuclear programme and transfer enriched uranium abroad.