{"text":[[{"start":7.7,"text":"The United Arab Emirates said a drone strike caused a fire at the perimeter of its Barakah nuclear power plant, but that there were no injuries and radiation levels remained safe."}],[{"start":17.25,"text":"The emirate’s state news agency said on Sunday that authorities were “handling a fire that broke out in an electric generator outside the inner perimeter” of the Barakah power plant “caused by a drone strike”. "}],[{"start":29.8,"text":"The UAE did not apportion blame for the attack and there was no claim of responsibility. But the emirate has borne the brunt of Tehran’s retaliatory attacks since the US and Israel launched the war on Iran on February 28."}],[{"start":43.1,"text":"Since the war began, Iran has launched almost 3,000 drones and missiles against the UAE, attacking Gulf states in an attempt to raise the costs of the conflict to the US, its regional allies and the global economy."}],[{"start":57.1,"text":"The strike near the nuclear plant comes amid heightened tensions, as mediators struggle to build on a fragile ceasefire between the US and Iran to broker an agreement to end the war."}],[{"start":67.85,"text":"The UAE foreign ministry said the attacks “constitute a dangerous escalation, an unacceptable act of aggression, and a direct threat to the country’s security”. "}],[{"start":null,"text":"
"}],[{"start":78.05,"text":"It said it “reserves its full, sovereign, legitimate, diplomatic, and military rights to respond to any threats, allegations, or hostilities in a manner that ensures the protection of its sovereignty”."}],[{"start":92.05,"text":"The drone that struck the electrical generator at Barakah was one of three that entered the country from the western border, according to the UAE Ministry of Defence. The other two were intercepted, the ministry said."}],[{"start":105.85,"text":"The most hawkish Arab state towards Iran, the UAE has launched covert strikes against the republic in retaliation for missile and drone attacks on its energy facilities and other civilian infrastructure, people familiar with the matter have said. "}],[{"start":119.44999999999999,"text":"The US and Iran agreed to a truce on April 8, but there have been sporadic exchanges of fire in the Strait of Hormuz, the key waterway that Iran has in effect closed since the conflict erupted. "}],[{"start":131.85,"text":"Two weeks ago, Iran fired more than a dozen missiles and drones at the UAE after US President Donald Trump launched a military operation to guide ships through the strait — an effort that was halted a day after it was launched."}],[{"start":145.45,"text":"Shipping in the Gulf remains disrupted with Iran slowing the flow of traffic through the Strait of Hormuz to a trickle, while the US imposed its own naval blockade to prevent ships entering or leaving Iranian ports."}],[{"start":159.14999999999998,"text":"The International Atomic Energy Agency expressed “grave concern” about the incident at the nuclear power plant, but said the UAE had informed it that radiation levels at Barakah remained normal."}],[{"start":170.34999999999997,"text":"The Barakah plant, located near the UAE coast and its border with Saudi Arabia, began operations in 2021 as the Arab world’s first commercial nuclear power station."}],[{"start":181.39999999999998,"text":"Built with South Korean technology, it provides around a quarter of the UAE’s electricity needs, according to the Emirates Nuclear Energy Company’s website. The unit was still operating as normal on Sunday, UAE authorities said. "}],[{"start":195.34999999999997,"text":"The plant is key to the UAE’s energy needs, but is also central in its diversification efforts as it seeks to reduce the nation’s carbon footprint by providing clean energy to industries, businesses, homes and government facilities. "}],[{"start":209.34999999999997,"text":"Gulf countries will require months to repair energy facilities that were damaged during the war, which is now in its 11th week. The full capacity of the UAE’s biggest gas plant, which was hit twice last month will not be fully restored until next year."}],[{"start":232.44999999999996,"text":""}]],"url":"https://audio.ftcn.net.cn/album/a_1779070924_3540.mp3"}