Abbas Araghchi criticised the United States over the rising cost of the ongoing conflict, calling $200 billion "just the tip of the iceberg." He blamed Benjamin Netanyahu and US lawmakers, warning Americans of a looming "Israel First tax" as the conflict deepens.
A drone struck the SAMREF refinery operated by Saudi Aramco in the Red Sea port city of Yanbu, causing minimal impact. The attack comes amid a wave of strikes on Gulf energy infrastructure following US-Israel actions against Iranian facilities, Reuters reported.
A second refinery, owned by Kuwait National Petroleum Company, caught fire after a drone targeted the Mina Abdullah facility, while an earlier strike hit the Mina Al-Ahmadi refinery, causing a smaller blaze. Authorities are assessing the damage amid escalating attacks on Gulf energy infrastructure, AFP reported.
Iran executed three men detained during January's nationwide protests, marking the first known executions linked to the unrest. The judiciary said the men were convicted of killing two police officers in Qom. Rights groups have raised concerns over due process, warning of potential mass executions of other detainees.
Araghchi also criticised Emmanuel Macron, accusing him of failing to condemn US-Israel strikes on Iran. He said Macron's concern surfaced only after Tehran retaliated, calling it selective and criticising the silence over attacks on Iranian fuel and gas facilities.
Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud warned Iran that patience among Gulf nations is wearing thin amid ongoing attacks. He urged Tehran to "recalculate," stating that Saudi Arabia and its allies possess significant capabilities and could respond if provoked further, accusing Iran of deliberately planning strikes on regional neighbours.
Iranian missile attacks killed three Palestinian women in the West Bank and a foreign worker in central Israel, marking the first Palestinian fatalities in the conflict. Shrapnel hit a salon in Beit Awa near Hebron, killing a 17-year-old. The Palestine Red Crescent Society said at least eight others were injured.
Kuwait reported that its air defence systems are actively confronting hostile missile and drone attacks, with several drones reportedly shot down. Authorities urged residents to follow safety instructions, noting that sounds of explosions are due to successful interceptions amid the escalating regional conflict.
Araghchi held calls with counterparts in entity["country","Turkey",""], ["country","Egypt",""], and Pakistan claimed that Donald Trump approved Israel's strike on Iran's South Pars gas field, contradicting his public statement denying prior knowledge. The report suggests coordination with Netanyahu, even as Iran retaliated by targeting Qatar's LNG infrastructure, escalating tensions across the Gulf.
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations reported an incident near Qatar's Ras Laffan, where a vessel was struck by an "unknown projectile" about four nautical miles off the coast. All crew members are safe, while authorities advised ships in the area to proceed with caution.
Iranian state television reported that Qatar's Ras Laffan gas facility was hit again by a missile hours after an earlier strike caused significant damage. The site is now on fire, signalling a sharp escalation in attacks targeting critical energy infrastructure in the Gulf region.
