Dubai: United States’ President Donald Trump on Monday threatened widespread destruction of Iran’s energy resources and other vital infrastructure, including desalination plants that supply drinking water, if a deal to end the war is not reached “shortly”.
Iran, meanwhile, struck a key water and electrical plant in Kuwait, and an oil refinery in Israel came under attack. Israel and the US launched a new wave of strikes on Iran, as the war raged with no end in sight.
Trump’s new threat came in a social media post. Earlier comments to the Financial Times suggested American troops could seize Iran’s Kharg Island oil export hub.
Trump has repeatedly claimed to be making diplomatic progress – though Tehran denies negotiating directly – while ramping up his threats and sending thousands more US troops to the Middle East.
It remains unclear where the diplomatic effort facilitated by Pakistan stands.
Iran’s continuing attacks on its Gulf neighbours could further complicate any talks. The United Arab Emirates – which has long billed itself as a beacon of stability in a volatile region – is signalling it wants Iran disarmed in any ceasefire.
Iran on Monday confirmed the death of Revolutionary Guard navy chief Alireza Tangsiri. Israel had claimed on Thursday that it killed Tangsiri, a rear admiral in the Iran navy.
A statement from the Guard on Monday, read on state television, said Tangsiri “joined the ranks of Allah due to the severity of his injuries”.
Meanwhile, the United Nations peacekeeping mission in southern Lebanon, where Israel is battling the Iran-backed Hezbollah, said three peacekeepers have been killed in less than 24 hours.
India condemned the attacks on UN peacekeepers, urging all parties to ensure safety and security of the Blue Helmets.
An Indonesian peacekeeper was killed when a projectile exploded in a UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) position near Adchit Al Qusayr on March 29. The attack left another peacekeeper critically injured.
The Permanent Mission of India to the UN condemned the recent attack on UN Peacekeepers in UNIFIL.
Indian loses life in Kuwait as Iran strikes power plant
Dubai: An Indian national has been killed in Kuwait in Iranian strikes on a power and water desalination plant, taking the total number of Indian fatalities from the ongoing conflict in West Asia to eight since it began a month back.
Kuwait’s Ministry of Electricity, Water and Renewable Energy said a service building at the facility was damaged in Sunday’s attack, Kuwait’s state-run KUNA news agency reported. It was the fifth Indian fatality on land since the Iran-US conflict erupted on February 28.
The embassy of India in Kuwait, confirming the death, expressed its “deepest condolences” at the “tragic demise” of the Indian national.
Ambassador Paramita Trpathi visited Kuwait’s central mortuary on Monday where the mortal remains of the Indian national who lost his life Sunday evening during the attack on a desalination facility, were brought, the embassy said on social media.
“The Embassy is in touch with the family of the deceased Indian national and is coordinating with Kuwaiti authorities for expeditious transportation of mortal remains,” it said without sharing details of the deceased.
Kuwaiti officials described the strikes on the power and water desalination plant as “brutal”. However, they did not identify the plant.
Fatima Jawhar Hayat, a spokesperson at the Ministry of Electricity, Water and Renewable Energy, said the strike resulted in the death of a worker of Indian nationality.
Technical and emergency response teams were immediately deployed to the site to contain the situation and manage the aftermath in line with the ministry’s laid down protocol, she added.
Hayat said specialised teams are working to secure the facility while coordinating closely with security authorities and other relevant agencies.
