Iran hits Gulf refineries as Trump warns U.S. will assault Iranian bridges, energy vegetation : NPR

[ad_1] <img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/5100x3400+0+0/resize/1100/quality/50/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F5c%2Fd9%2F51b2bbd649908fc611a4cb71d8d5%2Fgettyimages-2268909874.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/5100x3400+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F5c%2Fd9%2F51b2bbd649908fc611a4cb71d8d5%2Fgettyimages-2268909874.jpg" class="img" alt="Israeli emergency responders inspect a scene of a direct ballistic hit, after it was launched from Iran on April 02, 2026 in Petach Tikva, Israel. Iran has continued firing waves of drones and missiles at Israel after the United States and Israel launched a joint attack on Iran early on February 28th." fetchpriority="high"/> Israeli emergency responders examine a scene of a direct ballistic hit, after it was launched from Iran on April 02, 2026 in Petach Tikva, Israel. Iran has continued firing waves of drones and missiles at Israel after the US and Israel launched a joint assault on Iran early on February twenty eighth. Amir Levy/Getty Pictures cover caption

toggle caption

Amir Levy/Getty Pictures Blasts and sirens rang out throughout Israel, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia on Friday as air protection programs tried to stave off Iranian drones and missiles. At the very least two refineries had been set on hearth by drone assaults or falling particles. The strikes got here as President Trump repeated his menace to Iran's management on Day 35 of the conflict.

"Our navy… hasn't even began destroying what's left in Iran," Trump posted late Thursday on social media. "Bridges subsequent, then Electrical Energy Crops!"

He added: "New Regime management is aware of what needs to be completed, and needs to be completed, FAST!"

Iranian officers stated one of many longest bridges linking Tehran to the town of Karaj was destroyed in a single day.

Amongst targets hit by Iran on Friday was Kuwait's largest oil refinery, setting a few of its models on hearth. Authorities in UAE reported an incident at Habshan fuel facility from falling particles.

The trade of strikes and threats got here amid renewed international efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic waterway for the oil provide, which has been blocked by Iran in retaliation for the U.S. and Israeli strikes in opposition to it that started on Feb. 28. The blockade has despatched up costs of oil, fuel and fertilizer.

The Brent crude oil value went up by 7.8 % on Friday, standing at US$109.03 per barrel.

This is extra information from the conflict on Iran on Friday:

U.S. strikes on Iran | Iran assaults Gulf refineries | Strait of Hormuz talks | Investigation on Iran assaults

Certainly one of Iran's largest bridges destroyed in U.S. strikes The B1 bridge west of the capital Tehran, connecting it to the town of Karaj, was beneath development when it was hit in an assault late Wednesday. Iran's safety forces stated eight folks had been killed within the assault.

Extra strikes had been reported throughout Iran in a single day Thursday.

Iran's Revolutionary Guard threatened to hit main bridges within the Gulf area in retaliation.

Trump has threatened the U.S. will hit extra civilian infrastructure together with energy vegetation by subsequent week if Iran's management doesn't open the Strait of Hormuz. The menace has been criticized by many Iranians, even those that oppose the regime, like opposition determine Reza Pahlavi, the son of the previous shah, because of the hardship it might trigger abnormal Iranians.

<img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/6000x4000+0+0/resize/1100/quality/50/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F35%2F92%2Fb69eda9b481a9de5a300c8c00d05%2Fap26093249853321.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/6000x4000+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F35%2F92%2Fb69eda9b481a9de5a300c8c00d05%2Fap26093249853321.jpg" class="img" alt="A bridge struck by U.S. airstrikes on Thursday is seen in the town of Karaj, west of Tehran, Iran, Friday, April 3, 2026." loading="lazy"/> A bridge struck by U.S. airstrikes on Thursday is seen within the city of Karaj, west of Tehran, Iran, Friday, April 3, 2026. Vahid Salemi/AP cover caption

toggle caption

Vahid Salemi/AP "If you're saying that if these individuals are separate from the federal government and you've got simply come right here to simply topple this regime, then why are you attacking this energy plant?" an Iranian who fled Tehran advised NPR this week.

In response to the assaults, Iran's international minister, Abbas Araghchi stated on a put up in social media "putting civilian infrastructure won't compel Iranians to give up."

Iran launches missile and drone assaults on Israel, Gulf Kuwait's Petroleum Company stated on Friday a number of models on the nation's largest oil refinery, Mina Al-Ahmadi, had been on hearth following a drone assault.

Emergency groups had been working to include the fires and no accidents had been reported. The refinery has been a goal of Iranian drones up to now.

The Kuwait Military additionally stated its air protection programs had been responding to hostile missiles and drone threats.

Authorities within the United Arab Emirates reported a fireplace within the nation's Habshan fuel facility brought on by falling particles from an intercepted assault.

Saudi Arabia's ministry of protection additionally stated it intercepted and destroyed a few dozen drones.

Israel's well being ministry stated on Friday that it has handled 148 folks within the final day, the bulk for minor accidents. Some 6,594 folks acquired therapy for the reason that conflict started, in accordance with the ministry's put up on social media.

Nations mull diplomatic strain on Iran over Strait of Hormuz, however attain no settlement Leaders of 40 nations, who convened just about on Thursday on the request of the British authorities, mentioned diplomatic strain and financial measures to compel Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, however didn't conform to any particular steps.

The assembly, hosted by U.Okay. international secretary Yvette Cooper, included representatives from European nations, Canada, the United Arab Emirates – however not of the nations that launched the conflict: the U.S. and Israel.

Earlier this week, Trump stated the blocked strait did not have an effect on the U.S. and advised different nations to fend for themselves in the event that they wished to get it reopened. Cooper stated the remainder of the world had been left to take care of the implications of the Iran conflict.

She stated that by blocking the Strait of Hormuz, Iran was "hijacking a worldwide delivery route" and was "holding the worldwide economic system hostage."

"That is hitting the buying and selling for Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, the UAE, Saudi, Oman , Iraq… however meaning liquid pure fuel for Asia, fertilizer for Africa and jet gasoline for the world," Cooper added.

She stated that visitors by the strait had plunged from 150 vessels a day to 10-20 ships a day.

The assembly mentioned diplomatic strain on Iran in addition to sanctions if Iran continues to maintain the passage closed. They rejected any makes an attempt by Iran to impose tolls on ships passing by the waterway.

<img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/8640x5760+0+0/resize/1100/quality/50/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F5b%2F89%2F63cefa81404687bb41463d098fbe%2Fap26093367585138.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/8640x5760+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F5b%2F89%2F63cefa81404687bb41463d098fbe%2Fap26093367585138.jpg" class="img" alt="A residential building damaged by recent U.S.-Israeli strikes is seen with a sign on its wall that reads in Farsi: “We stand till the end,” in Fardis, west of Tehran, Iran, Friday, April 3, 2026. " loading="lazy"/> A residential constructing broken by latest U.S.-Israeli strikes is seen with an indication on its wall that reads in Farsi: "We stand until the tip," in Fardis, west of Tehran, Iran, Friday, April 3, 2026. Vahid Salemi/AP cover caption

toggle caption

Vahid Salemi/AP Cooper stated that navy planners from the nations attending the assembly would meet subsequent week to consider defensive capabilities for safety of the strait, as soon as the preventing stops.

Officers additionally stated they'd work with the Worldwide Maritime Organisation to attempt to assist about 20,000 sailors and hundreds of ships stranded within the Strait of Hormuz.

French President Emmanuel Macron stated on Thursday the thought of utilizing pressure to reopen the Strait - as instructed by Trump - is "unrealistic", including that that would depart cargo ships within the strait susceptible to Iranian assaults.

Macron and South Korean President Lee Jae Myung stated on Friday they'd cooperate to reopen the strait, in accordance with the Related Press.

U.S. allies have repeatedly stated they don't seem to be going to get entangled militarily within the scorching section of the conflict.

Bellingcat says UAE downplayed Iranian assaults in a brand new report Investigative outlet Bellingcat has a brand new report displaying a number of Iranian assaults on the United Arab Emirates that had been apparently downplayed or mischaracterized in official statements.

The federal government didn't instantly reply to NPR's request for touch upon the report.

Bellingcat, which makes use of open supply knowledge, stated a video shared by a migrant employee exhibits what seems to be an Iranian drone hitting gasoline storages within the emirate of Fujairah in early March. Satellite tv for pc imagery exhibits three tanks destroyed. However Bellingcat notes Fujairah's media workplace stated a fireplace had resulted from particles following a profitable interception - although no interception could be seen.

In different examples, obvious drone strikes on Dubai's airport and a resort weren't acknowledged as such.

Bellingcat additionally stated satellite tv for pc imagery exhibits two fires over a mile aside at Dubai's port final month, together with an space utilized by the U.S. Navy. However authorities acknowledged only one hearth on the time.