Iran-US war latest: Fire breaks out at Abu Dhabi nuclear plant after drone strike as Trump warns of ‘bad time’
A drone strike has sparked a fire at an electrical generator at the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant in Abu Dhabi, authorities in the UAE have said.
The UAE has faced repeated missile and drone attacks during the conflict, including incidents authorities said originated from Iran. No injuries were reported, radiological safety levels were unaffected and the Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation confirmed the plant's essential systems are operating normally. A statement did not say who was to blame for the suspected drone attack.
Meanwhile, US president Donald Trump warned that if Tehran failed to reach a peace agreement with the US, it would face "a very bad time”.
The statement comes after Iran's foreign minister Abbas Araghchi pointed out that contradictory messages from the Trump administration made Tehran "reluctant about the real intentions of Americans".
“We are in doubt about their seriousness,” Araghchi said.Protestors in Pakistan hold anti US-Israel march
Protestors hold placards during an anti US-Israel protest in Karachi on May 16, 2026.
Rebecca Thomas17 May 2026 13:32Labour leadership hopeful Wes Streeting praised Starmer over Iran decision
Labour leadership hopeful Wes Streeting has praised prime minister Sir Keir Starmer over the decision for the UK not to join the US’ war with Iran in his resignation letter.
As the former health secretary stepped down to prepare to challenge Sir Keir he said: “You have shown courage and statesmanship on the world stage - not least in keeping Britain out of the war in Iran.”
However he said: “After the financial crisis, austerity, the disaster of Brexit, Liz Truss, the Covid pandemic, the war in Ukraine and now the war in Iran, the country needs to believe again that things can be better than this and that politics is part of the answer, not the source of the problem.
“These are big challenges that require a bold vision and bigger solutions than we are offering.”
Rebecca Thomas17 May 2026 13:17Netanyahu to speak to Trump
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he was scheduled to speak with U.S. President Donald Trump on Sunday.
Netanyahu said that in he expected to hear about Trump's trip to China, while suggesting they would also discuss Iran.
Chris Stevenson17 May 2026 13:00Trump warns Iran will have "a very bad time" if no deal agreed
Rebecca Thomas17 May 2026 12:46Fire at nuclear plant in Abu Dhabi
Authorities in Abu Dhabi responded to a fire caused by a drone strike on an electrical generator outside the inner perimeter of the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant in the Al Dhafra Region, the Abu Dhabi Media Office have said.
No injuries were reported, radiological safety levels were unaffected and the Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation confirmed the plant's `essential systems are operating normally.
The statement did not say who was to blame for the suspected drone attack.
The UAE has faced repeated missile and drone attacks during the Israel-US-Iran conflict, including incidents authorities said originated from Iran and targeted energy and maritime infrastructure.
Rebecca Thomas17 May 2026 12:33US Treasury allows sanctions waiver on Russian seaborne oil to lapse
The Trump administration on Saturday allowed a sanctions waiver to lapse that had previously allowed countries including India to buy Russian seaborne oil after a month-long extension aimed at easing oil supply shortages and high prices due to Iran's closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent had previously said he would not renew the general license allowing the purchase of Russian oil stored on tankers.
As of early afternoon Washington time on Saturday, no renewal notice had been posted on the Treasury website. A Treasury spokesperson declined further comment.
Rebecca Thomas17 May 2026 12:15Trump: Xi Jinping is ‘right’ to call America ‘nation in decline’
US president Donald Trump said Xi Jinping was “right” to call America “a nation in decline” during an interview with Fox News on Friday (15 May).
Speaking with Fox News anchor Bret Baier following his return from China, Trump revealed that he agreed with Xi Jinping's assessment of the US.
Recalling his conversation with the Chinese president, Trump said, “He said that America is a nation in decline," and noted that he had responded, "You're right."
Trump later clarified that he was referring specifically to the Biden administration, and went on to praise his own administration.
Rebecca Thomas17 May 2026 12:00More than one million displaced in Lebanon since conflict began
First responders gather at the site of an Israeli airstrike in southern Lebanon.
Rebecca Thomas17 May 2026 11:45South Korea asks for Iran's position on ship attack near Strait of Hormuz
South Korean foreign minister Cho Hyun has asked for Iran's position on a recent attack on a South Korean cargo vessel near the Strait of Hormuz, in a phone call with his Iranian counterpart on Sunday, Seoul's foreign ministry said.
A South Korean official has previously said the possibility that an entity other than Iran was responsible for the attack is low.
Rebecca Thomas17 May 2026 11:31US and Isreal 'do not learn lessons' says Russian Envoy
A Russian Envoy has criticised the US and Israel over reports suggesting the countries are preparing for new attacks.
Posting on social media site X, Mikhail Ulyanov, said: Western experts believe that the #US and #Israel can resume military strikes against #Iran in the coming days, if not hours. If that is true, it means that the US and Israel do not learn lessons from their past strategic mistakes.”
Rebecca Thomas17 May 2026 11:30
