At least seven explosions were reported in Dubai’s Jebel Ali industrial area early Wednesday, followed by a major fire along the United Arab Emirates coast, according to Iranian broadcaster Press TV.Iraqi media outlets reported that the explosions were caused by a missile attack launched from Yemen, while Emirati media, without citing an official statement, confirmed hearing multiple blasts. Nasa thermal imagery later indicated a fire at a warehouse near the port that is used for fuel storage and transfer, as cited by the Mehr news agency.Press TV also cited media reports claiming that UAE authorities had arrested two people for filming the fire after smoke was seen billowing from the site.Located in southwestern Dubai, Jebel Ali serves as one of the UAE’s key logistics, commercial and industrial hubs. The area includes Jebel Ali Port and the Jebel Ali Free Zone (Jafza), established in 1985, which is home to more than 11,000 companies from over 150 countries. With links to major highways, Jebel Ali Port and Al Maktoum International Airport, the complex is a major gateway for international trade, according to Press TV.The development comes as US president Donald Trump said on Tuesday (local time) that the Strait of Hormuz would reopen “very soon” as part of an agreement involving Iran and Oman. He also warned that Iran would be “hit really hard” if it failed to reach a deal during ongoing talks aimed at easing regional tensions.Trump reiterated that Iran would not be allowed to acquire a nuclear weapon and said the reopening of the strategic waterway was tied to the broader diplomatic negotiations.“Iran, as an example, will never have a nuclear weapon. They already can’t, but they’ll–it’s going to be formal. The strait’s going to be open very soon, or they’re going to get hit very hard, and then the strait’s going to be open,” Trump said in an interview with Fox News.Trump’s remarks came as the United States, Iran and Oman were reportedly nearing an interim agreement to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, following heightened tensions after the collapse of a 14-point Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Washington and Tehran last month, Axios reported, citing two regional sources and a US official.
