A new round of escalating strikes between Iran and the US continued yesterday, further undermining the fragile interim peace agreement between the two countries, and prompting President Donald Trump to threaten violence that would ensure Iran “will no longer exist”.

On Sunday, Tehran launched drone and missile attacks against Bahrain and Kuwait after new US strikes on sites in southern Iran, and threatened a “complete halt” to negotiations to end the war, the UK Guardian reported.

Trump said that a moment might come soon when he abandoned talks and the US would “militarily finish the job”. The US president posted on social media: “If that happens, the Islamic Republic of Iran will no longer exist!”

Kuwait, which hosts a major US army base, said it had intercepted two ballistic missiles and that there were no reports of injuries or damage, while Bahrain’s interior ministry said the Iranian strikes had damaged a residential building near the international airport and that no one had been killed.

Qatar’s interior ministry ⁠said one Qatari national had been killed and second person injured by shrapnel from “military operations ⁠in the area”. The two were on a boat that went missing on Saturday and was located early on Sunday.

The latest violence has been triggered by efforts to reopen the strait of Hormuz to all shipping without Iran’s direct oversight. The strategically critical waterway, which carried a fifth of the world’s oil and liquid gas supplies before the war, has long been considered an international passageway.

US Central Command said in a statement that its strikes were “in direct response to continued Iranian aggression against commercial shipping” and had targeted Iranian military surveillance, communications, air defence, drone storage and mine-laying facilities.

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Washington has been promoting a southern lane along the coast of Oman, while Tehran, which ultimately aims to charge fees for use of the strait, wants ships to ‌use a northern route through its waters and under its control.

Hundreds of vessels, including tankers laden with oil, have been blockaded inside the Gulf by the closure of the strait since war broke out. Some have chanced the passage through the past two weeks, leading oil prices to drop to close to pre-war levels and bringing relief to economies around the world.

The US military accused Iran of violating the ceasefire on Saturday by attacking the Panama-flagged tanker Kiku, which carried crude oil for the state-run energy company of Qatar. According to ship-tracking websites, the Kiku appeared to be attempting to use the southern corridor near the coast of Oman.

Abbas Araghchi, Iran’s foreign minister, restated Tehran’s claim to sole control of the waterway during a state visit to Iraq on Sunday. He said in Baghdad: “Any interference in this matter, any attempt to establish new or separate arrangements from those currently being carried out by the Islamic Republic of Iran, will only lead to further complications, delay the reopening of the strait of Hormuz, and increase the level of tension.”

Observers say Iran is using its ability to threaten shipping in the strait not just as leverage in negotiations with the US, but to intimidate neighbouring countries and establish a more dominant role in the region, the Guardian report stated.

Aragchi also called for the establishment of a security framework with Gulf countries that would exclude the US. He said: “We should reach a new framework that includes all countries in the region and without the presence or interference of any country from outside the region.”

Mediators from Qatar and Pakistan successfully brought representatives of Washington and Tehran together in Switzerland earlier this month but have been unable to bridge wide gaps on contentious issues such as the future of the strait of Hormuz, sanctions relief for Tehran, and the future of Iran’s nuclear programme. Under the memorandum of understanding signed earlier this month, the two countries have 60 days to work out the details before signing a final agreement.

Leaders in Tehran and Washington face domestic political pressures to avoid a return to conflict and appear committed to a ceasefire for now, despite frequent bellicose rhetoric.

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed responsibility for both new attacks on Sunday. It said: “Let the enemy know that violating the ceasefire … will lead to a complete halt of ongoing processes.”

The IRGC, which controls Iran’s ballistic missile arsenal, has gained influence in Iran in recent months. Its navy command said American bases in the region would “experience hell in the coming days”.

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The Nigerian government has cautioned players in the oil and gas segment that she would not tolerate profiteering and sharp practices that exploit consumers.

The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Heineken Lokpobiri, made the assertion in Abuja, on Monday noting that fuel prices in Nigeria must continue to be determined by market forces under the deregulated regime, but that the government would not fold her hands while the citizens are being fleeced.

He bared his mind at the opening ceremony of the 2026 General Counsel and Legal Advisers Forum organised by the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA).

He maintained that the era of government-fixed petrol prices was over, but that deregulation did not mean regulators should abdicate their responsibility to protect consumers.

Nigerians consider his remarks appropriate, because there are renewed public concerns over frequent fluctuations in petrol prices, while some filling stations allegedly manipulate dispensing meters to take advantage of consumers under the guise of a deregulated market.

Addressing lawyers, general counsels and other stakeholders, Lokpobiri said the NMDPRA had a statutory responsibility under the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) to ensure not only the availability of petroleum products but also to prevent unnecessary profiteering.

He stressed that, “Pricing is also another issue, and I think that is one issue that I want this forum to deal with today. As part of the requirements of deregulation, prices have to be determined by market forces. The NMDPRA has a unique responsibility, compounded by the PIA, to ensure not only that products are available but also that unnecessary profiteering is stopped.

“Yes, the market is definitely deregulated, but that doesn’t limit deregulation. I listen to discussions on television every day. They are calling me out. Mr. Lokpobiri should come and speak up.

“But I am not engaged in any press war with anybody. What is important is the reality of the situation in the industry. Primarily, market forces have to determine prices. But we also have a responsibility as a government to ensure that there is no profiteering. The PIA specifically vested government institutions, including the NMDPRA.”

The minister also expressed concern over alleged fuel dispensing fraud at some filling stations. “It is also important that Nigerians get the full benefit of what they buy. I have seen situations where somebody buys 50 litres, but what he gets is 30 litres.

“There are offices across the country with the responsibility of ensuring that our men and women are on the field and that if somebody buys 50 litres, he gets 50 litres. Nigerians deserve fairness and transparency in the marketplace,” he said.

Lokpobiri also urged regulators and operators to move beyond compliance with laws, arguing that investor confidence depends on regulatory certainty and predictability. “For far too long, the dominant question in our regulatory conversation has been: are operators compliant? This question is important and will always remain important, but it is no longer sufficient.

“The more consequential question today is whether our regulatory agencies are doing their jobs. Are our regulations and legal frameworks clear, consistent and predictable enough to earn the confidence investors need to commit their capital, not just for the short term but for the long term?

“In my opinion, compliance is just the foundation that we need to build on. Regulatory certainty is one of the most critical ingredients in attracting investors to any country,” he said.

The minister noted that Nigeria had become more competitive in attracting petroleum investments since 2023. “I want to be very direct with you. We have been competing well since 2023. Before 2023, we had a 10-year period where there was virtually no investment in Nigeria.

“Today, we take about 70 per cent of investments flowing into the African continent. That means we are competing well. That is not where I want us to be, but we must appreciate the gains we have made so that they can inspire us to do more and attract even greater volumes of capital,” he said.

Earlier, the Authority Chief Executive of the NMDPRA, Rabiu Umar, said the industry had moved beyond discussions centred solely on compliance to broader issues of regulatory certainty, transparency and investment confidence.

“Compliance, while essential, is not an end in itself. Compliance was and remains the foundation. The broader objective is to create a petroleum industry characterised by certainty, predictability, transparency and confidence; a sector in which investors can commit capital with clarity and operators can make long-term business decisions with confidence,” he said.

Umar said that five years after the enactment of the PIA, attention had shifted from interpreting the law to evaluating its implementation and investors’ perception of Nigeria’s regulatory environment.

He added that the forum would provide a platform for continuous engagement between regulators and operators, while acknowledging that implementation challenges and areas of ambiguity still existed within the regulatory framework.

In his presentation, the Secretary and Legal Adviser of the NMDPRA, Joseph Tolorunse, pointed out that regulatory certainty had ensured stability of fiscal rules throughout project lifespans and helped avoid policy reversals.

According to him, the PIA had made Nigeria’s oil and gas industry more competitive, adding that competitiveness would attract investment, with “investment leading to growth.”

“Permit me to conclude by returning to the theme of this Forum. Beyond Compliance: Driving Regulatory Certainty and Investment Confidence in Nigeria’s Petroleum Sector.

“These words capture an important truth. Compliance will always remain the foundation of an effective regulatory system, but it cannot be the destination. The destination is confidence. Confidence that investors can make long-term decisions with clarity,” he said.

One of Nigeria’s leading operators, United Nigeria Airlines has been admitted as a Full Member of the African Airlines Association (AFRAA), a move that strengthens the continental body’s presence in one of Africa’s largest and fastest-growing aviation markets.

The announcement underscores AFRAA’s commitment to strengthening the Association’s footprint across the African continent and driving the sustainable development of the continent’s airline industry.

United Nigeria Airlines commenced its commercial operations in February, 2021 with a mission to enhance domestic connectivity across Nigeria and advance regional integration within West Africa. Operating a diverse modern fleet of Boeing 737-800NG, Embraer 145, A-320, Embraer 190 and CRJ 900 jets, United Nigeria Airlines currently serves 14 domestic routes which includes Abuja, Anambra, Asaba, Benin, Ekiti, Enugu, Ilorin, Kano, Lagos, Owerri, Port Harcourt, Sokoto, Warri and Yenagoa with plans to open four new ones this year.

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United Nigeria Airlines also flies to Accra, Ghana’s capital and has been designated by the Nigerian government to fly to the USA, Canada, UAE, UK, Italy, Turkey and other regional and continental routes with more destinations expected.

It recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the government of Guinea-Bissau to establish a national carrier and has achieved the IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) certification.

It is also a member of the IATA Clearing House, demonstrating its commitment to global safety and operational standards.

It plans to establish its own Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO), a milestone that would further strengthen Nigeria’s aviation ecosystem and reduce dependence on costly offshore maintenance services.

Speaking on the occasion, AFRAA Secretary General, Mr. Abderahmane Berthé, stated: “We are truly excited to welcome United Nigeria Airlines into the AFRAA fraternity. Nigeria is Africa’s most populous nation and one of its most dynamic aviation markets, and United Nigeria Airlines exemplifies the resilient, forward-looking spirit of the African airline industry. At AFRAA, United Nigeria Airlines will now have access to our full suite of advocacy, joint projects, commercial intelligence, capacity building, and networking resources. We will work to elevate their growth and advance the cause of truly unified African skies.”

The executive chairman of United Nigeria Airline, Prof. Obiora Okonkwo said: “Joining AFRAA as a full member is a defining moment for United Nigeria Airlines and for Nigerian aviation as a whole. Our vision has always been to unite Nigerians and connect them more closely to the rest of the continent. AFRAA membership gives us a stronger platform to advance that vision, collaborate with our fellow African carriers, and contribute meaningfully to the realisation of the Single African Air Transport Market. We look forward to working with AFRAA and its members to build a more integrated and competitive African aviation industry.”

The admission of United Nigeria Airlines aligns with AFRAA’s strategic priorities, including accelerating the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM), promoting intra-African trade and tourism, and enhancing operational excellence across member airlines. Nigeria, as Africa’s most populous nation and one of its fastest-growing economies, is central to the realization of a truly integrated African aviation market.

As a Full Member, United Nigeria Airlines joins a network of over 40 member airlines across the continent. The airline joins a membership that collectively represents more than 85% of total international traffic carried by African airlines.

The membership of AFRAA has multiple benefits including collective advocacy, network and partnership facilitation, market intelligence, operational efficiency and joint negotiations. The admission comes as African carriers continue pushing for deeper regional integration under SAATM, a long-running initiative aimed at liberalizing air travel across the continent.