Live updates: US and Iran agree to conditional ceasefire
Air defence systems in the UAE and Kuwait were activated on Wednesday in response to a missile threat, authorities said, hours after a ceasefire was announced to halt the US-Israeli war on Iran.
The UAE's National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority (Ncema) urged residents to remain in safe locations and follow official channels for warnings and updates while the situation was being monitored.
Kuwait said its air defences had intercepted 28 drones launched by Iran in a wave of attacks that began at 8am and lasted for several hours.
The Kuwaiti Armed Forces’ General Staff said the drones had been launched towards several areas in the country, including vital oil infrastructure and power stations in the south.
Qatar was attacked with “seven ballistic missiles and a number of drones from Iran” on Wednesday, all of which were intercepted, its Ministry of Defence said.
Bahrain issued an alert urging residents to seek safety during an impending attack earlier on Wednesday. Shortly after, its Interior Ministry said the Civil Defence had extinguished a fire that broke out at a facility “as a result of the Iranian aggression”.
“No injuries were reported,” the ministry said in a statement on X.
Iran's state Oil Refining and Distribution Company said an oil refinery on an island in the Gulf was attacked on Wednesday morning.
The Lavan Oil Refinery on the island of the same name was "subjected to a cowardly attack by enemies" at 10am, a statement carried by Iranian state media said. There were no casualties reported.
Making progress
The attacks took place after US President Donald Trump hailed a “big day for world peace” as Washington and Tehran agreed to a two-week ceasefire. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Lebanon would not be included in the truce, contradicting Iran's account of its terms.
“The United States will be helping with the traffic build-up in the Strait of Hormuz. There will be lots of positive action,” Mr Trump wrote on Truth Social. He added that there was “big money” to be made.
“Iran can start the reconstruction process,” he said. “This could be the Golden Age of the Middle East.”
The deal was reached just hours before Mr Trump's deadline for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz or face “a whole civilisation” being wiped out.
Speaking to ABC on Wednesday morning, Mr Trump said the US may seek a "joint venture" with Iran to safeguard the strait. "We're thinking of doing it as a joint venture. It's a way of securing it – also securing it from lots of other people," he said.
Iran has proposed a 10-point agreement as the basis for talks on a permanent end to the war, including continued control over the strait – a condition that Arab Gulf states have opposed.
US Vice President JD Vance said Mr Trump was "impatient to make progress" in talks with Iran.
"If the Iranians are willing in good faith to work with us, we'll come to an agreement. If they will lie and cheat or try and prevent even the fragile truce we've set up from taking place, they won't be happy," Mr Vance said during a talk in Hungary.
If Iran does not engage in good faith, they will learn that Mr Trump "is not one to mess around", he added. "It is up to the Iranians on how to negotiate and we hope they make the right decision."
Mr Vance also lauded Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, whom he claimed had agreed to the US terms.
Germany welcomed the ceasefire as a first step “towards lasting peace”.
“The consequences of the war continuing would be incalculable,” Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul wrote on X.
Ukraine, too, welcomed the ceasefire, with Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha calling for similar “decisiveness” by Washington in stopping Russia's war in Ukraine.
“American decisiveness works. We believe it is time for sufficient decisiveness to force Moscow to cease fire and end its war against Ukraine,” Mr Sybiha wrote on X.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer will visit the Gulf on Wednesday to “discuss diplomatic efforts to uphold the ceasefire”, Downing Street said.
Mr Starmer will meet leaders of countries that have been on the front line of the conflict, the statement added.
He is also to hold talks on ensuring the Strait of Hormuz is reopened permanently, with the UK keen to lead international efforts to protect shipping through the narrow channel.
'A step back from the brink'
Turkey also welcomed the agreement, and said it would “continue to provide all necessary support” to make sure that negotiations – expected begin in Islamabad on Friday – are successful.
Diplomatic efforts are also under way elsewhere in the region. Egypt’s Foreign Minister, Badr Abdelatty, travelled to Kuwait on Wednesday for high-level talks on regional developments and co-ordination with Gulf partners.
Cairo's Foreign Ministry framed Mr Abdelatty's visit as indicative of Egypt's “firm” support for Kuwait and all GCC states at a “critical moment”.
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said the US-Iran ceasefire agreement “is a step back from the brink after weeks of escalation”.
“US-Iran deal creates a much needed chance to tone down threats, stop missiles and restart shipping,” she said, calling for the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. Iran said it would allow ships to pass through under its supervision.
French President Emmanuel Macron hailed Iran's willingness to reopen the strait, calling on all sides to abide by the ceasefire agreement that he called a “very good thing”. He also urged for Lebanon to be part of the ceasefire agreement.
Israel continued its attacks on Lebanon with strikes on a hospital and an ambulance, resulting in deaths and injuries.
