A drone struck an electrical generator on the perimeter of the United Arab Emirates' sole nuclear power plant on Sunday, sparking a fire and drawing sharp condemnation from Abu Dhabi at one of the most dangerous moments in the six-week-old ceasefire between the US and Iran. No injuries were reported, and nuclear regulators confirmed that radiation levels remained normal and all four reactors at the facility continued operating, with one temporarily running on emergency diesel generators.
The Barakah nuclear power plant, located in the Al Dhafra area of Abu Dhabi and built with South Korean assistance at a cost of around $20 billion, is the only nuclear power plant in the Arab world and supplies roughly a quarter of the UAE's electricity needs. The UAE's defence ministry said three drones entered the country from its western border; two were intercepted, while the third reached the generator just outside the plant's inner perimeter. No group has formally claimed responsibility, and the UAE said investigations were ongoing. However, Emirati officials made little secret of who they suspected. Presidential adviser Anwar Gargash described the strike as a "dangerous escalation" carried out by "the principal perpetrator or through one of its agents" — a clear reference to Iran or Iranian-backed militias. The UAE's foreign ministry called it "a flagrant violation of international law, the UN charter, and the principles of humanitarian law." Saudi Arabia, which separately intercepted three drones that entered its airspace from Iraq on the same day, condemned the attack.
The incident unfolded against a backdrop of stalled peace negotiations and rising military tension. The US and Iran agreed a ceasefire in April following the outbreak of war on 28 February, when Israel and the United States launched strikes against Iran. Since then, Iran has repeatedly targeted Gulf Arab states it accuses of facilitating those attacks — the UAE alone says more than 2,800 Iranian drones have been fired at its territory. The Strait of Hormuz, the narrow waterway through which about 20 percent of global oil trade normally passes, has been largely blockaded by Iran since the war began, causing a significant rise in global energy prices. Diplomatic talks remain deadlocked, with Washington demanding Iran dismantle its nuclear programme and end the blockade, while Tehran is seeking an end to a US naval blockade of its ports, financial compensation, and a ceasefire in Lebanon.
International reaction was swift. Rafael Grossi, director-general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), expressed "grave concern" and stated that "military activity that threatens nuclear safety is unacceptable," calling for "maximum military restraint." US President Donald Trump, who met national security advisers over the weekend and is due to convene his security team again to discuss options, posted a blunt warning directed at Tehran: "For Iran, the Clock is Ticking, and they better get moving, FAST, or there won't be anything left of them." Trump also spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, whose government said it was "prepared for any scenario" involving Iran. Reports indicate Israel and the US are coordinating over a possible resumption of military strikes.
The strike on Barakah is the first time the plant has been directly targeted since the war began, and it underscores a troubling trend: nuclear facilities have increasingly become flashpoints in modern conflicts, from Ukraine to the broader Middle East. The attack has intensified pressure on both sides to make diplomatic concessions — yet neither Washington nor Tehran appears willing to do so, leaving the region on an increasingly precarious edge.