As war for Middle East dey enter fourth week, Saudi Arabia don take serious action by expelling five Iranian diplomats from dia embassy for Riyadh. According to Saudi Arabia Foreign Ministry, dem give security attache and im assistant plus three other embassy staff 24 hours to pack dia load comot from di kingdom. This action come after Saudi Arabia Defense Ministry report say dem don shoot down 20 Iranian drones wey dem target for Saudi territory.
Di tension between Saudi Arabia and Iran don increase as war between Iran and Israel dey escalate with involvement of United States. Di war begin on February 28, 2026, when U.S. and Israeli forces carry out airstrikes against Iranian targets. Since dat time, di conflict don spread across di region with attacks on civilian infrastructure and military installations.
U.S. President Donald Trump don issue strong warning to Iran concerning di Strait of Hormuz. Trump say if Iran no fully open di strategic waterway within 48 hours without any threat, United States go “obliterate” Iran power plants. “If Iran doesn’t FULLY OPEN, WITHOUT THREAT, di Strait of Hormuz, within 48 HOURS from this exact point in time, di United States of America will hit and obliterate dia various POWER PLANTS, STARTING WITH DI BIGGEST ONE FIRST!” Trump write for Truth Social platform.
Iran don respond to Trump threat with counter-warning. Iran Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf say if U.S. attack Iran power plants, regional infrastructure including energy and desalination facilities for Gulf go become “legitimate targets.” Qalibaf warn say such retaliation go increase oil price for some time and could cause “irreversible destruction” for Middle East infrastructure.
Di war don witness dangerous escalation as Iran and Israel exchange attacks near nuclear facilities. Iran strike two communities near Israel main nuclear research site for Dimona and Arad. Israeli rescue services report say four people including 4-year-old girl suffer serious injury while 29 others get minor injuries. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu describe di evening as “very difficult” and promise more emergency resources for affected areas.
For Iran side, Iranian media report say U.S.-Israeli forces attack Shahid Ahmadi-Roshan Natanz nuclear enrichment complex. Technical experts confirm say no radioactive leaks occur and nearby residents no dey at risk. International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) say dem no detect any abnormal radiation levels and dem dey investigate di report. Dis same nuclear facility bin dey targeted during 12-day war with Iran for June 2025.
United Kingdom officials reveal say Iran unsuccessfully target joint U.S.-U.K. military base for Diego Garcia for Indian Ocean. U.K. Ministry of Defence (MoD) confirm di attack and say British Prime Minister Keir Starmer office approve U.S. forces use of British bases to defend di region. Di MoD say U.K. give U.S. permission to use RAF Fairford for England and Diego Garcia for Chagos Islands for “specific and limited defensive operations.”
Israel Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir say Iran target Diego Garcia with two-stage intercontinental ballistic missile wey get range up to 4,000 kilometers. “These missiles no be for Israel. Dia range extend to capitals of Europe—Berlin, Paris, and Rome all dey within direct threat range,” Zamir explain. Wall Street Journal first report di attack, citing multiple U.S. officials.
Di war don effectively choke di Strait of Hormuz, wey separate Iran from United Arab Emirates. About one-fifth of world oil dey pass through dis strategic waterway. Daily transit calls don fall to nearly zero from highs above 120 wey dem see earlier dis year. Brent crude oil futures for May rise to $112.19 per barrel, di highest since July 2022.
To address oil price concerns, Trump administration waive sanctions on purchase of Iranian oil at sea for 30 days. U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent say di move go bring 140 billion barrels of oil to global markets. “Dis temporary, short-term authorization strictly limited to oil wey already dey in transit and no allow new purchases or production,” Bessent explain for X platform.
Group of Seven (G7) countries—Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, United Kingdom, and United States—plus European Union issue joint statement say dem ready to take necessary measures to support global energy supplies. Dem reaffirm importance of safeguarding maritime routes including Strait of Hormuz and condemn “in di strongest terms” Iran reckless attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure.
Twenty-two countries including United Arab Emirates, U.K., France, Germany, Japan, and Bahrain release joint statement condemning Iran closure of Strait of Hormuz and attacks on unarmed commercial vessels for Gulf. “We express our deep concern about di escalating conflict. We call on Iran to cease immediately its threats, laying of mines, drone and missile attacks and other attempts to block di Strait to commercial shipping,” di statement read.
Iran Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi say Tehran ready to facilitate passage of Japanese vessels through Strait of Hormuz. “We no close di strait. E dey open,” Araghchi tell Japanese news agency Kyodo. He explain say Iran impose restrictions only on vessels belonging to countries involved in attacks against Iran while offering assistance to others. Araghchi add say Iran seek “not a cease-fire, but a complete, comprehensive and lasting end to di war.”
Iran President Masoud Pezeshkian speak with India Prime Minister Narendra Modi by phone and call for “immediate cessation” of what he describe as U.S.-Israeli aggression. Pezeshkian tell Modi say dem need guarantees to prevent recurrence of such “aggression” for future. He also call on BRICS bloc—Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa—to play independent role in halting aggression against Iran.
For regional diplomacy, Egypt President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman stress say Iranian escalation against Gulf states endanger safety and stability of di region, according to Saudi Press Agency. Arab League chief Ahmed Aboul Gheit say visits of el-Sissi and Jordan King Abdullah II to multiple Gulf states over past few days “reflect full Arab solidarity.”
Di war don cause significant casualties across di region. Death toll don rise to more than 1,500 people for Iran, over 1,000 for Lebanon, at least 60 for Iraq, 17 for Israel, 13 U.S. service members, 8 for United Arab Emirates, 5 for Kuwait, 3 for Saudi Arabia, and 2 for Bahrain. United Arab Emirates Defense Ministry report say dem respond to three ballistic missiles and eight drone attacks, while Jordan military say 240 missiles and drones don dey fired at Jordan since war begin, wounding 24 people.
Despite di conflict, some positive developments dey occur. Iraqi electricity ministry report say Iranian gas supplies to Iraq don resume at rate of five million cubic meters per day. Flows bin dey cut off since Israel attack on Iran main gas field, South Pars, for Wednesday. Dis development go help address electricity shortages for Iraq during di conflict period.
As Saudi Arabia expel Iranian diplomats, di action reflect broader regional tensions wey dey escalate alongside di U.S.-Iran conflict. Di expulsion follow similar actions by other Gulf states as di war for Middle East continue to expand with no clear end in sight. International community dey watch closely as diplomatic channels remain strained and military actions intensify across di volatile region.
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