Iran Renews Claim U.S. Used UAE to Strike Kharg and Warns of Retaliation Against U.S.-Linked Gulf Energy Sites
Tehran renewed its accusation that U.S. forces struck Kharg and Abu Musa from two locations in the UAE (Ras Al‑Khaimah and an area near Dubai) — a claim U.S. Central Command did not address while saying its strikes destroyed naval mine storage, missile bunkers and other military sites on Kharg. Iran warned it would retaliate against U.S.‑linked oil and energy infrastructure if its own oil facilities are attacked, urged evacuations around several UAE ports after debris from an intercepted Iranian drone struck an oil facility in Fujairah, and said Kharg’s oil facilities were undamaged.
📌 Key Facts
- Iran publicly urged people to evacuate areas around Jebel Ali port in Dubai, Khalifa port in Abu Dhabi and the port of Fujairah — its first open threat against a neighbor’s non‑U.S. assets in this war.
- Iran’s foreign minister Abbas Araghchi told MS NOW that the U.S. attacked Kharg Island and Abu Musa Island from two locations in the UAE (Ras Al‑Khaimah and an area “very close to Dubai”), calling the strikes dangerous and saying Iran would try to avoid populated areas.
- Debris from an intercepted Iranian drone struck an oil facility at Fujairah and started a fire; there were no immediate reports of direct strikes on Jebel Ali or Khalifa ports.
- Iran’s joint military command reiterated a threat to strike U.S.-linked “oil, economic and energy infrastructures” in the region if Iran’s own oil infrastructure is attacked; state-affiliated Fars reported Kharg Island’s oil facilities were undamaged and listed the Iranian sites that were hit.
- U.S. Central Command said its strikes on Kharg Island destroyed naval mine storage facilities, missile storage bunkers and other military sites, and declined to comment on Iran’s claim that launches originated from UAE territory.
- President Trump said the U.S. had “obliterated” military sites on Kharg Island, warned Iranian oil infrastructure could be targeted next if Tehran continues to interfere with shipping, and urged allies (including China, France, Japan, South Korea and the U.K.) to send warships to help keep the Strait of Hormuz open.
📊 Relevant Data
Global fertilizer prices have increased by 30% due to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, exacerbating global food security issues as one-third of global seaborne fertilizer trade passes through the strait.
In 2024, 24.4% of Black non-Hispanic households experienced food insecurity, compared to 20.2% of Hispanic households and lower rates for White households, with Black households 2.5 times more likely to face hunger than White households; these disparities have increased amid rising fertilizer costs.
Food Insecurity Remained High in 2024, Administration Ends Data Collection Before SNAP Cuts — Center on Budget and Policy Priorities
As of 2025, the racial composition of the U.S. military includes approximately 67% White, 20% Black, 4% Asian, and 9% Other, with Black service members comprising 21.4% of active-duty Army personnel.
Here is the makeup of the US military and how it's changed — WMTW
Up to 3.2 million people have been internally displaced within Iran due to the ongoing U.S.-Iran conflict as of March 2026.
Up to 3.2 million people displaced inside Iran by conflict, UN says — Reuters
A majority of Americans (56%) oppose U.S. military action in Iran according to a March 2026 poll, though breakdowns by race and ethnicity are not detailed in available surveys.
Majority of Americans oppose military action in Iran, new poll finds — PBS
📰 Source Timeline (2)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
- Iran publicly urged people to evacuate areas around Jebel Ali port in Dubai, Khalifa port in Abu Dhabi and the port of Fujairah, marking its first open threat against a neighbor’s non‑U.S. assets in this war.
- Iran’s foreign minister Abbas Araghchi told MS NOW that the U.S. attacked Kharg Island and Abu Musa Island from two locations in the UAE (Ras Al‑Khaimah and an area “very close to Dubai”), calling this dangerous and saying Iran would try to avoid populated areas.
- Debris from an intercepted Iranian drone struck an oil facility at Fujairah, starting a fire, though there were no immediate reports of direct strikes on Jebel Ali or Khalifa ports.
- Iran’s joint military command reiterated its threat to strike U.S.-linked “oil, economic and energy infrastructures” in the region if Iran’s own oil infrastructure is attacked, while Fars said Kharg Island’s oil facilities were undamaged and listed the Iranian sites hit.
- U.S. Central Command reiterated that its Kharg strikes destroyed naval mine storage facilities, missile storage bunkers and other military sites, and had no comment on Iran’s claim that launches came from UAE territory.
- President Trump repeated that the U.S. had “obliterated” military sites on Kharg Island and warned that Iranian oil infrastructure could be targeted next if Tehran continues interfering with shipping, while publicly urging allies (China, France, Japan, South Korea, the U.K. and others) to send warships to keep the Strait of Hormuz open.