Iran denied US President Donald Trump’s assertion that it wants ceasefire talks, launching fresh attacks across the Persian Gulf and forcing a suspension of flights at Dubai’s main airport.
The United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia reported drone and missile attacks overnight into Monday. Dubai halted flights at its main airport following a fire at a fuel tank that it said was caused by an Iranian drone. It announced a gradual resumption a few hours later, though Emirates said some of its scheduled flights for the day would be canceled.
The key UAE oil-export port of Fujairah was hit again on Monday, following a strike on Saturday that forced it to suspend some shipments for about a day.
In Abu Dhabi, a Palestinian civilian was killed because of a missile falling on a car, authorities in the UAE capital said.
Israel began airstrikes on infrastructure in the Islamic Republic’s capital, Tehran, after a barrage of missiles targeting the Jewish state.
The attacks show there is no letup in the fighting, now in its 17th day, that began with the US-Israeli alliance’s bombing of Iran on Feb. 28. The Strait of Hormuz remains effectively closed, disrupting global energy flows.
Trump for the first time called on world powers, including France, the UK, Japan and China, to help the US reopen the waterway by sending warships to provide escorts to commercial vessels. None of the countries have so far said they’re yet willing to do that.
Oil prices rose again in early trading. Brent rose 2.4% as of 11:20 a.m. in Dubai to go past $105 a barrel, a move that will further heap pressure on Trump as US gasoline prices jump.
Trump said over the weekend that Iran is ready to make a deal to end the war, but the US wants better terms, including a commitment by Tehran to abandon nuclear activities.
“Iran wants to make a deal, and I don’t want to make it because the terms aren’t good enough yet,” he said.
Yet Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi denied seeking talks or a ceasefire with the US.