As the conflict involving Iran intensifies, disputes over responsibility for a series of drone strikes on Gulf energy infrastructure have heightened tensions across the region, while the United States faces resistance from key allies over plans to form a naval coalition in the Strait of Hormuz.
According to a report aired by Al Jazeera, Iran has warned that some of the attacks targeting oil facilities in the Gulf may be “false flag” operations designed to implicate Tehran. Iranian officials have accused the United States and Israel of carrying out covert strikes while attempting to attribute them to Iranian forces.
The allegations come amid mounting instability in a region that plays a central role in global energy supply. Oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz — one of the world’s most strategic maritime routes — have already been disrupted following attacks on multiple tankers.
US President Donald Trump has called on allied nations to deploy naval forces to the waterway to safeguard commercial shipping. However, several major partners have declined the request.
“We're the strongest nation in the world. We have the strongest military by far in the world. We don't need them,” Trump said, as quoted in the Al Jazeera report, while warning that the future of NATO could be affected if allies refuse to support the proposed operation.
Washington reportedly approached seven countries about joining the initiative after Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) allegedly attacked at least 16 oil tankers, an incident that effectively halted traffic along the critical route.
Yet several governments have distanced themselves from the plan. Europe’s leading military powers — the United Kingdom, France and Germany — have declined participation. Japan and Australia have also rejected the proposal, while South Korea has said it is reviewing its position. China has not publicly responded.
Despite the pushback, Trump has continued to suggest that additional countries may eventually support the coalition. He has also argued that the United States does not depend heavily on Gulf oil supplies.
The disruption to regional energy infrastructure, however, extends beyond tanker attacks. Al Jazeera reported that several major oil facilities in the Gulf have also been targeted in recent days.
Authorities in Qatar, Bahrain and Kuwait have suspended production at certain installations after strikes damaged key facilities. In the United Arab Emirates, a drone attack on Monday ignited a fire at the Sha oil field in Abu Dhabi, forcing operators to halt production.
While Gulf governments have attributed the strikes to Iran, Tehran has denied responsibility. Iranian officials say their military operations have focused exclusively on US bases in the region.
Instead, Iran has alleged that the United States and Israel are carrying out attacks using drones designed to resemble Iranian technology. The Iranian government claims the tactic is intended to create the impression that Tehran is responsible for targeting energy infrastructure.
One system mentioned in the Al Jazeera report is the Lucas drone — described as a “low-cost uncrewed combat attack system” developed by the United States in 2025. The platform was reportedly introduced in response to Iran’s Shahed drone programme.
“Lucas Indispensable. Uh, as as many of you know, and if you don't know, this was an original Iranian drone design. We captured it, pulled the guts out, sent it back to America, put a little Made America on it, brought it back here, and we're shooting them uh at the Iranians,” a US military figure said in remarks cited by Al Jazeera.
Iran’s foreign ministry has proposed a joint investigation with Gulf states to determine who is responsible for the refinery attacks. Officials in Tehran have also warned that more serious incidents could occur if tensions continue to escalate.
However, governments across the Gulf have dismissed the accusation, maintaining that Iran bears responsibility for the strikes.
Meanwhile, Israel has said it carried out an attack that killed Iranian security chief Ali Larijani along with several other officials. According to Al Jazeera, the former speaker of Iran’s parliament and a key figure in nuclear negotiations had last appeared in public during the annual al-Quds Day rally alongside President Masoud Pezeshkian.