THE UAE carried out secret strikes on Iran causing major damage to a key oil refinery last month, it is reported.
The attacks took place in early April, just as US President Trump announced a cease-fire, sources told the Wall Street Journal.
Images reportedly show a thick plume of smoke rising from a secret UAE strike in Iran Credit: X
One of the strikes blasted the Lavan Island oil refinery in the Persian Gulf Credit: X
It comes as the threatens to unravel with Tehran warning its enemies “will be surprised”.
One of the strikes blasted the Lavan Island oil refinery in the Persian Gulf, sparking a huge fire which is expected to cripple its output for months, the outlet reports.
The UAE has not publicly acknowledged the secret strikes.
At the time, Iran said that the refinery was struck by enemy fire.
US President Donald Trump blasted the ceasefire warning it is ‘on life support’ Credit: AFP
While the Islamic Republic did not name the source, it launched a counter attack against the UAE and Kuwait.
The UAE has been a prime target for Iran since the outbreak of war given its close ties with Israel and the US.
Earlier attacks saw UAE air defences intercept ballistic missiles, cruise missiles and drones throughout March and April.
Revelations of the strikes pile even more pressure on the ceasefire which Trump warned is already “on life support”.
Iran’s parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf hit back at Trump’s comments, saying Tehran’s armed forces are “prepared for all options”.
In a post online he said: “Our armed forces are ready to deliver a well-deserved response to any aggression; mistaken strategy and mistaken decisions will always lead to mistaken results – the whole world has already figured this out.
“We are prepared for all options; they will be surprised.”
Trump summoned his national security team at the White House on Monday to “discuss a way forward” after negotiations hit a dead end.
Gulf nations have been a prime target for Iranian attacks throughout the war Credit: AFP
A thick plume of smoke rises from an oil storage facility hit by a US-Israeli strike in Tehran Credit: AP
Tehran responded to US plans for a peace deal with a counter-offer over the weekend.
The Trump administration’s latest proposal addressed a deal to end the war, reopen the Strait of Hormuz, and roll back Iran’s nuclear program.
But Trump blasted Tehran’s response as “completely unacceptable” and “stupid”.
Full details of Iran’s counter-offer have not been released, nor has the plan itself.
But Tehran proposed to focus a first phase of talks on ending the war and unblocking the Strait of Hormuz, leaving nuke negotiations on the backburner, according to Iranian state media.
State TV added that Iran is looking to end the war “on all fronts” – including ending Israeli attacks on Lebanon.
Trump has repeatedly stressed that he is locked and loaded to resume his blitz on Iran if peace talks fall through completely.
But he also told reporters that a peace deal is still “very possible”.
The US President said: “Look, I’ve had a deal with them [the Iranians] four or five times.
“They change their mind. They’re very dishonourable people, the leadership.”
But as negotiations stall to end the Strait of Hormuz standoff, global oil prices have skyrocketed, pushing Brent crude futures to around $104 a barrel.
If the key waterway remains closed, the world will face mass starvation, a UN task force has warned.
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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