Web Desk/AFP

Middle East

President Donald Trump says “good chance” of Iran deal while threatening strikes on infrastructure if Hormuz stays closed, as US-Israeli attacks hit an Iranian airport, underscoring rising tensions and uncertain prospects for diplomacy

Day 37: All you need to know about US-Israel war on Iran

Web Desk

ISLAMABAD: A fire aboard the Kuwaiti crude oil tanker &lsquo;Al Salmi&rsquo; was extinguished after the vessel was struck while anchored at Dubai port, in an incident that has heightened concern over the widening risks to commercial shipping in Gulf waters amid the regional war.&nbsp; Dubai authorities said maritime firefighting teams brought the blaze under control and that all 24 crew members were safe, with no injuries reported.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; line-height: 2;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2038844927589888250&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2Fnew%2F&sessionId=bdd89d88d1ece0f32958598ad7476eec283e3fb9&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 297px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" data-tweet-id="2038844927589888250"></iframe></div></div>The attack was first confirmed by Kuwait Petroleum Corporation (KPC), whose statement was carried by Kuwait&rsquo;s state news agency KUNA. KPC said the tanker had been hit in what it described as an Iranian attack while anchored in Dubai, causing hull damage and a fire onboard, and warned of a possible oil spill in surrounding waters.&nbsp; Reuters also reported that work was under way to assess the extent of the damage. The Al Salmi was carrying around 2 million barrels of oil from Kuwait and Saudi Arabia and was bound for Qingdao, China, according to shipping data cited by Reuters.&nbsp; The strike immediately rattled energy markets, with Brent crude briefly rising above $115 a barrel in early Asian trade before easing later. The tanker incident came amid a broader pattern of attacks on merchant shipping in the Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz since the start of the current conflict.&nbsp; Earlier the same day, a Greek-owned container ship off Saudi Arabia&rsquo;s Ras Tanura had also reported two projectiles splashing into the water nearby, though no injuries or damage were reported there. No group immediately claimed responsibility for the strike on Al Salmi, and Iranian officials did not immediately comment. But the episode is likely to intensify already acute concerns over the safety of one of the world&rsquo;s most strategically important energy and shipping corridors

A strike on the Kuwaiti oil tanker Al Salmi at Dubai port caused a fire and hull damage, raising fresh fears over Gulf shipping security as regional conflict spreads and energy markets react to mounting risks

Kuwaiti oil tanker hit in Dubai Port, fire extinguished

ISLAMABAD: Kuwait has endorsed Pakistan&rsquo;s growing diplomatic role in efforts to ease tensions between Iran and the United States, as the ongoing conflict continues to destabilize the Middle East and threaten regional security.&nbsp;Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif received a telephone call on Friday from Kuwait&rsquo;s Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Al Khaled Al Hamad Al Sabah, according to a statement from his office.&nbsp;During the conversation, the crown prince &ldquo;fully endorsed Pakistan&rsquo;s efforts for mediation between Iran and the US,&rdquo; the statement said, acknowledging Islamabad&rsquo;s increasing role in facilitating indirect contacts between the two sides.&nbsp;Pakistan has recently emerged as a key intermediary, relaying messages between Washington and Tehran as part of ongoing backchannel diplomacy aimed at ending the war, which has triggered missile exchanges across Gulf states and disrupted global energy flows.&nbsp;Sharif reiterated Pakistan&rsquo;s condemnation of recent attacks on Kuwait and expressed solidarity with its people.&nbsp;&ldquo;The Prime Minister expressed Pakistan&rsquo;s strong condemnation of the attacks on Kuwait and conveyed condolences on the loss of precious lives,&rdquo; the statement said, adding that he also prayed for the recovery of those injured.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; line-height: 2;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-1" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-1&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2037484854955409462&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=fd25b5b85ace2f874ce6272131a6b0e4c68e6067&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 369px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div>&nbsp;The Kuwaiti crown prince thanked Pakistan for its support and highlighted Sharif&rsquo;s outreach, including a recent message of solidarity to Kuwait&rsquo;s leadership.&nbsp;He also conveyed his &ldquo;desire to visit Pakistan as soon as the situation improves in the Middle East,&rdquo; the PMO said.&nbsp;Sharif reaffirmed Islamabad&rsquo;s commitment to continued diplomatic engagement.&nbsp;&ldquo;Pakistan would continue to play a constructive role for bringing peace and stability in the region,&rdquo; the statement concluded.&nbsp;The exchange reflects Pakistan&rsquo;s broader strategy of maintaining ties with all sides while advocating dialogue, as regional leaders intensify efforts to prevent further escalation in a conflict now impacting security, diplomacy and global economic stability.

Foreign Affairs

Kuwait endorses Pakistan’s mediation efforts as Islamabad relays messages between Washington and Tehran, with both sides emphasizing diplomacy and coordination amid escalating regional tensions and growing concerns over the wider impact of the ongoing conflict.

Articles tagged with "Kuwait"

Day 37: All you need to know about US-Israel war on Iran

Kuwaiti oil tanker hit in Dubai Port, fire extinguished

Kuwait backs Pakistan mediation role as Iran war diplomacy intensifies