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Iran hits Gulf refineries as Trump warns U.S. will attack Iranian bridges, power plants
+867 words added -823 words removed
Special Series Middle East conflict Conflict in the Middle East has been escalating. These stories provide context for current developments and the history that led up to them.
Here's more news from the war on Iran on Friday:
U.S. Iran's security forces said eight people were killed in the attack.
Iran's Revolutionary Guard threatened to hit major bridges in the Gulf region in retaliation.
Emergency teams were working to contain the fires and no injuries were reported. The refinery has been a target of Iranian drones in the past.
The Kuwait Army also said its air defense systems were responding to hostile missiles and drone threats.
Authorities in the United Arab Emirates reported a fire in the country's Habshan gas facility caused by falling debris from an intercepted attack.
Some 6,594 people received treatment since the war began, according to the ministry's post on social media.
Leaders of 40 countries, who convened virtually on Thursday at the request of the British government, discussed diplomatic pressure and economic measures to compel Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, but did not agree to any specific steps.
Cooper said the rest of the world had been left to deal with the consequences of the Iran war.
She said that traffic through the strait had plunged from 150 vessels a day to 10-20 ships a day.
The meeting discussed diplomatic pressure on Iran as well as sanctions if Iran continues to keep the passage closed. They rejected any attempts by Iran to impose tolls on ships passing through the waterway.
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. Vahid Salemi/AP hide caption
Cooper said that military planners from the countries attending the meeting would meet next week to think about defensive capabilities for security of the strait, once the fighting stops.
U.S. allies have repeatedly said they're not going to get involved militarily in the hot phase of the war.
The government did not immediately respond to NPR's request for comment on the report.
Bellingcat, which uses open source data, said a video shared by a migrant worker shows what appears to be an Iranian drone hitting fuel storages in the emirate of Fujairah in early March. Satellite imagery shows three tanks destroyed.
In other examples, apparent drone strikes on Dubai's airport and a hotel were not acknowledged as such.
Bellingcat also said satellite imagery shows two fires over a mile apart at Dubai's port last month, including an area used by the U.S. Navy. But authorities acknowledged just one fire at the time.
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− By
NPR Staff
Israeli emergency responders inspect a scene of a direct ballistic missile hit, after it was launched from Iran on Thursday, in Petah Tikva, Israel.
+ By
NPR Staff
A view of a residential area affected during the U.S.-Israeli military operations in the city of Karaj, in Alborz province, several miles west of Tehran, Iran, on Friday.
− Iran has continued firing waves of drones and missiles at Israel after the U.S.
+ The area was struck on March 9.
− and Israel launched a joint attack on Iran on Feb.
+ Morteza Nikoubazl/NurPhoto via Getty Images hide caption
A U.S.
− 28.
+ F-15 fighter jet was downed in Iran Friday, with one of its crew rescued and U.S.
− Amir Levy/Getty Images hide caption
Blasts and sirens rang out across Israel, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia on Friday as air defense systems tried to stave off Iranian drones and missiles.
+ forces searching for the second crew member, according to a U.S.
− At least two refineries were set on fire by drone attacks or falling debris. The strikes came as President Trump repeated threats to Iran's leadership on Day 35 of the war.
+ official speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly.
− The military "hasn't even started destroying what's left in Iran," Trump posted late Thursday on social media.
+ Middle East conflict A U.S.
− "Bridges next, then Electric Power Plants!"
He added: "New Regime leadership knows what has to be done, and has to be done, FAST!"
Iranian officials said one of the longest bridges linking Tehran to the city of Karaj was destroyed overnight.
Among targets hit by Iran on Friday was Kuwait's largest oil refinery, setting some of its units on fire.
+ jet goes down over Iran, a U.S.
− Authorities in UAE reported an incident at Habshan gas facility from falling debris.
+ official confirms This comes as the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran entered Day 35, with blasts and sirens ringing out across the Middle East from Iranian drones and missiles. Kuwait's largest oil refinery was hit, setting some of its units on fire.
− The exchange of strikes and threats came amid renewed global efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic waterway for the oil supply, which has been blocked by Iran in retaliation for the U.S.
+ Meanwhile, dozens of countries — not including the U.S.
− and Israeli strikes against it that began on Feb.
+ or Israel — launched renewed efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic waterway for the world's oil supply that has been largely blocked by Iran in retaliation for U.S.
− 28.
+ and Israeli strikes.
− The blockade has sent up prices of oil, gas and fertilizer.
+ President Trump said Friday it would take "a little more time" but would be easy to open the strait.
− The Brent crude oil price went up by 7.8 percent on Friday, standing at US$109.03 per barrel.
+ The Brent crude oil price went up by 7.8% on Friday, standing at $109.03 per barrel.
− strikes on Iran | Iran attacks Gulf refineries | Strait of Hormuz talks | Investigation on Iran attacks
The B1 bridge west of the capital Tehran, connecting it to the city of Karaj, was under construction when it was hit in an attack late Wednesday.
+ strikes on Iran | Iran attacks Gulf refineries | Strait of Hormuz talks | Investigation on Iran attacks
A bridge struck by U.S.
+ airstrikes on Thursday is seen in the town of Karaj, west of Tehran, Iran, Friday. Vahid Salemi/AP hide caption
The B1 bridge west of the capital Tehran, connecting it to the city of Karaj, was under construction when it was hit in an attack late Wednesday.
− More strikes were reported across Iran overnight Thursday.
+ President Trump appeared to be referring to that strike in a social media post with a video showing a collapsing bridge. "Much more to follow!" he wrote.
+ More strikes were reported across Iran Thursday night and into Friday.
− Trump has threatened the U.S.
+ State of the World from NPR Is the U.S.
− will hit more civilian infrastructure including power plants by next week if Iran's leadership does not open the Strait of Hormuz.
+ threatening to commit war crimes in Iran?
− The threat has been criticized by many Iranians, even those who oppose the regime, like opposition figure Reza Pahlavi, the son of the former shah, due to the hardship it would cause ordinary Iranians.
A bridge struck by U.S.
+ Trump has threatened the U.S.
− airstrikes on Thursday is seen in the town of Karaj, west of Tehran, Iran, Friday, April 3, 2026.
+ will hit more civilian infrastructure including power and desalination plants by next week if Iran's leadership does not open the Strait of Hormuz.
− Vahid Salemi/AP hide caption
"If you are saying that if these people are separate from the government and you have just come here to just topple this regime, then why are you attacking this power plant?" an Iranian who fled Tehran told NPR this week.
+ International law expert Gabor Rona told NPR's All Things Considered that it's a threat to commit war crimes both under international and U.S. law.
− In response to the attacks, Iran's foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi said on a post in social media "striking civilian infrastructure will not compel Iranians to surrender."
Kuwait's Petroleum Corporation said on Friday several units at the country's largest oil refinery, Mina Al-Ahmadi, were on fire following a drone attack.
+ The threat has also drawn criticism from many Iranians, even those who oppose the regime, like opposition figure Reza Pahlavi, the son of the former shah, due to the hardship it would cause ordinary Iranians.
+ "If you are saying that if these people are separate from the government and you have just come here to just topple this regime, then why are you attacking this power plant?" an Iranian who fled Tehran told NPR this week.
In response to the bridge attack, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on social media, "Striking civilian infrastructure will not compel Iranians to surrender."
Kuwait's Petroleum Corporation said on Friday several units at the country's largest oil refinery, Mina Al-Ahmadi, were on fire following a drone attack.
− Saudi Arabia's ministry of defense also said it intercepted and destroyed about a dozen drones.
+ Saudi Arabia's Defense Ministry also said it intercepted and destroyed about a dozen drones.
− Israel's health ministry said on Friday that it has treated 148 people in the last day, the majority for minor injuries.
+ Israel's Health Ministry said on Friday that it has treated 148 people in the last day, the majority for minor injuries.
− The meeting, hosted by U.K.
+ The meeting, hosted by British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper, included representatives from European countries, Canada and the United Arab Emirates.
− foreign secretary Yvette Cooper, included representatives from European countries, Canada, the United Arab Emirates – but not of the countries that launched the war: the U.S.
+ Neither country that launched the war — the U.S.
− and Israel.
+ and Israel — were present.
− Earlier this week, Trump said the blocked strait didn't affect the U.S.
+ This week Trump said the blocked strait didn't affect the U.S.
− and told other countries to fend for themselves if they wanted to get it reopened.
+ and told other countries that rely on it for fuel to get it reopened.
− She said that by blocking the Strait of Hormuz, Iran was "hijacking a global shipping route" and was "holding the global economy hostage."
"This is hitting the trading for Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, the UAE, Saudi, Oman , Iraq… but that means liquid natural gas for Asia, fertilizer for Africa and jet fuel for the world," Cooper added.
+ She said that by blocking the Strait of Hormuz, Iran was "hijacking a global shipping route" and was "holding the global economy hostage."
"This is hitting the trading routes for Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, the UAE, Saudi, Oman, Iraq, but that means liquid natural gas for Asia, fertilizer for Africa and jet fuel for the world," Cooper added.
− Officials also said they would work with the International Maritime Organisation to try to help about 20,000 sailors and thousands of ships stranded in the Strait of Hormuz.
+ Officials also said they would work with the International Maritime Organization to try to help about 20,000 sailors and thousands of ships stranded in the Strait of Hormuz.
− French President Emmanuel Macron said on Thursday the idea of using force to reopen the Strait - as suggested by Trump - is "unrealistic", adding that that would leave cargo ships in the strait vulnerable to Iranian attacks.
+ French President Emmanuel Macron said on Thursday the idea of using force to reopen the Strait, as suggested by Trump, is "unrealistic," adding that that would leave cargo ships in the strait vulnerable to Iranian attacks.
− Macron and South Korean President Lee Jae Myung said on Friday they would cooperate to reopen the strait, according to the Associated Press.
+ Macron and South Korean President Lee Jae Myung said on Friday they would cooperate to reopen the strait, according to The Associated Press.
− Investigative outlet Bellingcat has a new report showing several Iranian attacks on the United Arab Emirates that were apparently downplayed or mischaracterized in official statements.
+ On Friday, Trump said on social media: "With a little more time, we can easily OPEN THE HORMUZ STRAIT, TAKE THE OIL, & MAKE A FORTUNE. IT WOULD BE A "GUSHER" FOR THE WORLD???"
Investigative outlet Bellingcat published a new report showing several Iranian attacks on the United Arab Emirates that were apparently downplayed or mischaracterized in official statements.
− But Bellingcat notes Fujairah's media office said a fire had resulted from debris following a successful interception - though no interception can be seen.
+ Bellingcat notes Fujairah's media office said a fire had resulted from debris following a successful interception — though no interception can be seen.
− Emily Feng contributed to this report from Istanbul, Fatima Al-Kassab from London, Aya Batrawy from Dubai and Tina Kraja from Washington, DC.
+ Emily Feng contributed to this report from Istanbul, Fatima Al-Kassab from London, Aya Batrawy from Dubai, United Arab Emirates, and Tom Bowman, Tina Kraja and Alex Leff from Washington, D.C.