The US military claims to have sunk six small Iranian boats as tensions rise in the Strait of Hormuz.
US Admiral Brad Cooper said the navy had eliminated six small boats attempting to interfere with commercial shipping, which he claimed Iran was targeting with cruise missiles. He said US military ships were also being targeted.
An Iranian military official denied the US navy report, according to Iranian state television.
It comes after US Central Command denied Iranian claims that two Iranian missiles struck a US warship intending to pass through the Strait of Hormuz.
Semi-official state news agency Fars said the warship was turned back after it was struck while sailing near Jask island, after Tehran earlier warned it would attack any US boats that entered the Strait of Hormuz.
US president Donald Trump had vowed to free commercial ships stranded in the waterway as part of so-called “Project Freedom” on Monday morning to “free up people, companies, and Countries that have done absolutely nothing wrong”.
Iran had afterwards warned that “any foreign armed forces, especially the aggressive US army, will be attacked” if they approach the Strait.
Key Points
- US claims to sink six Iranian boats as Trump moves to reopen Hormuz
- Trump warns Iran could be 'blown off the face of the Earth' if US vessels attacked during Project Freedom
- Trump says Iran will be 'blown off the face of the earth' if military targets ships in Strait
- Iran says events in Hormuz show no military solution to the crisis
Pictured: A man holds a flag with a picture of late leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, late Supreme Leader of Iran Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and Iran's new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, during a rally in Tehran
03:00 , Bryony Gooch
US claims to sink six Iranian boats as Trump moves to reopen Hormuz
02:00 , Bryony Gooch
US claims to sank six Iranian boats as Trump moves to reopen Strait of Hormuz
Watch: Trump tells Fox that Iran will be 'blown off the face of the earth' if military targets ships in Strait
01:00 , Bryony GoochAragchi: events in Hormuz show no military solution to the crisis
Tuesday 5 May 2026 00:00 , Bryony GoochIran's foreign minister Abbas Araqchi said events in the Strait of Hormuz showed there was no military solution to the crisis, adding that talks were making progress with Pakistan's mediation while warning the United States and the United Arab Emirates against being drawn into a "quagmire by ill-wishers."
Fire extinguished on South Korean shipper
Monday 4 May 2026 23:30 , Bryony GoochSouth Korean shipper HMM said on Tuesday that the fire on its vessel in the Strait of Hormuz has been extinguished.
The ship will be towed to a nearby port in Dubai, the company said, adding no casualties have been reported so far.
Oil jumps, stocks drop as Iran tightens grip on Strait of Hormuz
Monday 4 May 2026 23:00 , Bryony GoochOil prices jumped 6 per cent on Monday and stocks fell as Iran escalated its military campaign, hitting several ships in the Strait of Hormuz and setting a United Arab Emirates oil port ablaze.
Brent futures rose $6.27, or 5.8%, to settle at $114.44 per barrel, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude rose $4.48, or 4.4 per cent, to settle at $106.42. The moves came after US president Donald Trump pledged over the weekend that the US Navy would force the strait open, provoking the war's biggest escalation since a ceasefire was declared four weeks ago.
The Strait of Hormuz, through which roughly a fifth of the world's seaborne oil and gas normally flows, has been severely disrupted for two months.
US stocks fell broadly, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average down 1.13 per cent, the S&P 500 0.41 per cent lower, and the Nasdaq Composite off 0.19 per cent.
The pan-European STOXX 600 index fell 0.99 per cent. Germany's 10-year bond yield, the benchmark for the euro zone bloc, rose 5 basis points to 3.08 per cent. Markets in London were closed for a public holiday.
UAE confronted 19 missiles and drones from Iran on Monday
Monday 4 May 2026 22:00 , Bryony GoochThe United Arab Emirates defence ministry says it confronted 12 ballistic missiles, three cruise missiles and four drones fired by Iran on Monday.
Saudi crown prince condemns Iranian attacks
Monday 4 May 2026 21:51 , Bryony GoochSaudi Arabia’s crown prince Mohammed bin Salman condemned Iran’s “unjustified” attacks on the United Arab Emirates in a phone call with the UAE president, according to the Saudi state news agency.
US claims to have reopened a lane through the strait
Monday 4 May 2026 21:30 , Bryony GoochThe US.-led Joint Maritime Information Center had advised ships Monday to cross the strait in Oman’s waters, saying it had set up an “enhanced security area.”
Admiral Brad Cooper, commander of US Central Command, told reporters that American forces have successfully opened a passage through the strait that is free of Iranian mines. He said Iran launched multiple cruise missiles, drones and small boats at civilian ships under the U.S. military’s protection.
US military helicopters sank six of the small boats, Cooper said, adding that “each and every” threat had been defeated.
“The US commanders who are on the scene have all the authority necessary to defend their unit and to defend commercial shipping -- as we saw and demonstrated earlier today,” Cooper said.
Trump had warned Sunday that Iranian efforts to halt passage through the strait “will, unfortunately, have to be dealt with forcefully.”
Trump says gasoline prices will drop once Iran conflict resolved
Monday 4 May 2026 21:08 , Bryony GoochPresident Donald Trump said on Monday that he believes high gasoline prices will drop rapidly once the Iran conflict is resolved.
Watch: Trump tells Fox that Iran will be 'blown off the face of the earth' if military targets ships in Strait
Monday 4 May 2026 21:00 , Bryony GoochCooper: US has 'clear advantage' over Iran in Strait of Hormuz
Monday 4 May 2026 20:55 , Bryony GoochUS Centcom commander admiral Brad Cooper has said the US military has a clear advantage over Iran in the current struggle over the Strait of Hormuz.
"The distinction from my perspective is crystal clear. US forces are helping the international community in restoring the flow of global commerce, while the IRGC on the other hand, is doing everything it can to terrorize and threaten commercial shipping. My operational assessment overall is that the U.S. military has the clear advantage. We have an enormous amount of capability and firepower concentrated in and around the [Strait of Hormuz]."
comment | If Trump really wants shipping to flow through the Strait of Hormuz it’s time he enacted Operation Retreat
Monday 4 May 2026 20:30 , Alex CroftAt first glance, the latest product of the strategic mind of Donald J Trump looks promising, not to say valiant and brave. “Project Freedom”, so much more gentle-sounding and uplifting than operations Midnight Hammer and Epic Fury, is nothing less than, in his words, a “humanitarian gesture” designed to rescue “neutral and innocent” crews stranded for weeks and build “goodwill” in the conflict. It’s all very well, but there are at least three things wrong with the project that suggest it’s not been fully thought through. Quelle surprise, as they say in Tehran.
First, according to Trump, the project sounds like it’s almost a joint operation with Iran, a sort of modern maritime version of the Christmas Day truce between the Germans and the British, when Tommies and Fritzes emerged from the trenches to play football and swap stories. Trump, with chutzpah unusual even for him, declares he’s doing all this on behalf of the “United States, Middle Eastern Countries but, in particular, the Country of Iran.” Which is odd, because this restriction on shipping in the Strait of Hormuz is Iran’s blockade, not his own, and he’s not proposing to lift his own embargo on traffic moving into and out of Iran’s ports.
Sean O’Grady writes:
If Trump really wants the Strait of Hormuz to open, he’d enact Operation Retreat
Watch: Trump says there's a 'possibility' of new strikes if Iran 'misbehaves'
Monday 4 May 2026 20:00 , Bryony GoochVessel on fire near UAE - report
Monday 4 May 2026 19:30 , Bryony GoochThe UK Maritime Trade Organisation has reported a vessel was on fire amid growing tensions in the vicinity of the Strait of Hormuz.
UKMTO received a report of an incident 14 nautical miles west of Mina Saqr, United Arab Emirates from a third party that a vessel was on fire and requesting vessels in the vicinity to keep a safe distance from them.
The cause of the fire has not been verified at this time and no environmental impact has been reported. Authorities are investigating.
Germany fears trade war with US amid growing dispute
Monday 4 May 2026 19:00 , Alex CroftGermany, which is currently engaged in diplomatic dispute with the US, now fears an escalation of the trade conflict between the two countries.
Speaking on Monday, Berlin’s finance minister Lars Klingbeil said it is united and prepared to respond to any new tariffs.
"We don't want an escalation, we want to agree on a common path with the Americans, but we in Europe are also prepared and closely coordinated," Mr Klingbeil said.
"We have seen in the Greenland question that it's good when we Europeans are prepared and united," he added.
President Donald Trump has threatened to increase tariffs on imported European cars to 25 per cent from the 15 per cent levy previously agreed.
US, Gulf Arab nations draft new UN resolution on Strait of Hormuz
Monday 4 May 2026 18:59 , Bryony GoochThe United States and Gulf Arab nations are drafting a UN security council resolution designed to condemn Iran for blocking the Strait of Hormuz in response to a US-Israeli bombing campaign, US ambassador to the UN Mike Waltz said on Monday.
Waltz said negotiations will take place this week on the resolution, which comes after permanent Security Council members Russia and China blocked a resolution last month that Washington hoped would galvanize international efforts to restore freedom of navigation of the waterway.
Trump again threatens entire nation of Iran saying country will be ‘blown off the face of the earth’
Monday 4 May 2026 18:33 , Bryony GoochTrump calls on South Korea to join Project Freedom
Monday 4 May 2026 18:28 , Bryony GoochPresident Donald Trump said on Monday that South Korea should join US efforts to protect ship movements near Iran, and added that defense secretary Pete Hegseth would hold a news conference on Tuesday with the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff Dan Caine.
He said a South Korean-flagged cargo ship had been impacted by Iran’s latest movements in the Strait of Hormuz
Trump warns Iran could be 'blown off the face of the Earth' if US vessels attacked during Project Freedom
Monday 4 May 2026 18:12 , Bryony GoochPresident Donald Trump has warned Iran will be "blown off the face of the Earth" if they attack US vessels carrying out Project Freedom.
Trump made the comments during an interview with Fox News' Trey Yingst on Monday, adding that he believes Iran had become "much more malleable" in peace negotiations.
He added that the United States had a fully stocked artillery to take on any Iranian threat and wasn’t afraid to use all their weapons
“We have more weapons and ammunition at a much higher grade than we had before,” he said.
“We have the best equipment. We have stuff all over the world. We have these bases all over the world. They’re all stocked up with equipment. We can use all of that stuff, and we will, if we need it.”
Major UAE oil zone Fujairah on fire after drone attack
Monday 4 May 2026 18:00 , Bryony GoochFire broke out at a major UAE oil industry zone on Monday after a drone attack originating from Iran, authorities said, as the Gulf state's military separately intercepted three Iranian missiles over its waters and a fourth crashed into the sea.
Civil defence teams were deployed immediately to contain the blaze at the Fujairah Oil Industry Zone, the Fujairah Media Office said in a statement, adding that three Indian citizens were moderately injured in the attack and taken to hospital.
The UAE defence ministry said on X that its forces had intercepted three missiles, with a fourth falling into the sea.
Iran's Revolutionary Guards Navy issued a map it said showed an expansion of areas under Iranian control near the Strait of Hormuz, encompassing the UAE ports of Fujairah and Khorfakkan as well as the coast of the Umm Al Quwain emirate, Iranian news agencies reported.
The drone attacks shattered a period of relative calm in the UAE since a Pakistani-mediated ceasefire between Washington and Tehran took effect on 8 April, pausing more than two months of intense fighting in the Gulf region.
During the period of intense conflict, the UAE said it had intercepted and destroyed thousands of drones and missiles.
UAE authorities on Monday issued mobile phone alerts in Dubai and Abu Dhabi warning of the possibility of missile attacks.
Monday's strike was not the first time Fujairah's energy infrastructure had been in the crosshairs. A drone attack on 14 March had previously hit the Port of Fujairah, triggering fires and the suspension of some oil-loading operations.
Fujairah has been critical to UAE oil exports during the Iran war as it sits at the end of the Abu Dhabi Crude Oil Pipeline, which carries crude from inland fields to the Gulf of Oman, bypassing the Strait of Hormuz.
This has allowed the UAE to continue shipping oil to global markets even as the waterway remained under threat.
US military claims to eliminate six small Iranian boats
Monday 4 May 2026 17:47 , Bryony GoochThe US military claims to have sunk six small Iranian boats as tensions rise in the Strait of Hormuz.
US Admiral Brad Cooper said the navy had eliminated six small boats attempting to interfere with commercial shipping, which he claimed Iran was targeting with cruise missiles.
US military ships were also being targeted, he added.
Bessent says gas prices will come down quickly once Iran conflict ends
Monday 4 May 2026 17:30 , Alex CroftWe earlier heard from US treasury secretary Scott Bessent, who was speaking about US efforts to open the Strait of Hormuz, and called for China’s assistance.
In the interview, Mr Bessent added that gas prices are affecting Americans but they are expected to come down quickly when the conflict of Iran ends.
The US is opening of the Strait of Hormuz and help is on the way, Mr Bessent said in an interview with Fox News.
Spirit pilot 'overwhelmed' by rival airline's gesture after his final flight before retirement is canceled
Monday 4 May 2026 17:07 , Alex CroftA Spirit pilot was left “overwhelmed” by a rival airline's gesture after his final flight before retirement was cancelled.
The airline found itself in bankruptcy proceedings for the second time in less than two years with jet fuel prices soaring because of the Iran war.
Israel issues evacuation threat in Lebanon - ICYMI
Monday 4 May 2026 16:45 , Alex CroftThe Israeli military has ordered residents to evacuate the municipalities of Qana, Debaal, Qaaqaait al-Jisr and Srifa in southern Lebanon.
Those asked to flee must move at least 1,000m away from their residences to open areas, the Israeli military said this morning.
The warning comes after reports that Israeli forces bombed the towns of Khiam and Qantara overnight.
Israeli forces also dropped flares over Braachit during the night and shelled the outskirts of the towns of Safad El Battikh, Yater, Majdel Selm, and Chaitiyeh, according to state media.
Nato countries have 'gotten message' from Trump, says Rutte
Monday 4 May 2026 16:20 , Alex CroftEuropean nations have "gotten the message" from Donald Trump and are now ensuring that agreements on the use of military bases are being implemented, Nato secretary general Mark Rutte said on Monday.
Trump has accused some Nato nations of not doing enough to support the United States in the Iran war, and announced on Friday plans to withdraw 5,000 troops from Germany.
"Yes, there has been some disappointment from the US side, but Europeans have listened," Mr Rutte told reporters at a European Political Community summit in Armenia.
"They are now making sure that all the bilateral basing agreements are being implemented," he said.
Nato member Spain has said that military bases on its territory cannot be used for the war with Iran.
But Mr Rutte said other Nato countries such as Montenegro, Croatia, Romania, Portugal, Greece, Italy, Britain, France and Germany were implementing requests for the use of bases and other logistical support.
Trump’s approval ratings plummet amid Iran war and sky-high gas prices, poll finds
Monday 4 May 2026 15:55 , Alex CroftA brutal new poll shows America disapproving of President Donald Trump on several key issues - and slamming the president for his handling of rising prices.
Sunday’s Washington Post-ABC News-Ipsos poll shows Trump underwater on several key issues. On the Iran war, 66 percent disapprove of his handling compared to 33 percent who approve.
But it was the economy where Trump is now being hammered with high disapproval ratings.
Alex Lang reports:
Trump’s approval ratings plummet amid Iran war and sky-high gas prices, poll finds
Iran Nobel laureate Mohammadi needs urgent heart treatment, says brother
Monday 4 May 2026 15:33 , Alex CroftWe’ve reported in the last few days about the urgent hospitalisation of imprisoned Iranian Nobel Peace Prize laureate Narges Mohammadi.
Ms Mohammadi requires urgent specialised medical care to treat a life-threatening heart condition, her brother has now said.
She won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2023 while in prison for her campaign to advance women's rights and abolish the death penalty in Iran.
In late March, she suffered a suspected heart attack and was taken to a hospital in northwestern Iran on May 1 amid rapidly deteriorating health, her family has said.
"She is suffering from terrible headaches, nausea and chest pain. That is what we are very worried about, her heart," her brother Hamidreza Mohammadi said in an interview from his home in Norway.
The provincial hospital where she is being treated cannot provide her adequate care, he said.
Germany confident in Nato's deterrence capabilities despite US dispute
Monday 4 May 2026 15:15 , Alex CroftWe’ve heard from German foreign minister Johann Wadephul, who has expressed confidence that there would not be any shortfall in Nato's deterrence capability in Europe.
His comments came after Washington announced that it would be drawing down troops in Germany.
"We must understand this as a renewed call to develop and deploy our own capabilities more quickly. There is absolutely no way around it," said Mr Wadephul at a press conference in Athens.
Berlin needs to seek close dialogue with the US on which decisions have definitely been taken, he added.
UAE sends first missile alert in weeks
Monday 4 May 2026 14:56 , Alex CroftAuthorities in the United Arab Emirates sent an emergency phone alert on Monday warning of potential missile threats.
The warning asked residents to immediately seek a safe place and await further instructions, witnesses said.
A second message was sent soon afterwards to declare that the situation was safe and residents can resume normal activities.
It was the first alert to be sent by the authorities in recent weeks.
Bessent calls on China to help US open the Strait of Hormuz
Monday 4 May 2026 14:36 , Alex CroftWe’ve heard from US treasury secretary Scott Bessent, who has been speaking to Fox News.
He says that Washington will be watching to see whether China steps up its diplomatic efforts to pressure Iran into opening the Strait of Hormuz.
He told the US channel’s ‘America's Newsroom’ that he would urge the Chinese government to assist in US efforts to open the Strait - a call that has previously been made by other officials in the US.
Germany says no 'definitive cancellation' by US of Tomahawk missile plan
Monday 4 May 2026 14:13 , Alex CroftGermany has said that there had been no "definitive cancellation" by the US of a plan devised under former president Joe Biden to deploy a battalion with long-range Tomahawk missiles to Germany.
The comment comes after Washington announced last week that it would reduce its military presence in Germany by 5,000 soldiers, which was widely interpreted to include cancellation of the planned deployment of weapons.
"We're not talking about a definitive cancellation," the defence ministry spokesperson said, adding that the weapons were "meant to be stationed (in Germany) and may well still be."
He said that in any case, there were already plans underway by European nations to procure weapons systems that would fill the gap.
The Pentagon announced the drawdown from Germany, its largest European base, on Friday, as a rift over the Iran war and tariff tensions placed further strain on relations between the U.S. and Europe.
The long-range fires had been due to form a significant extra element of deterrence against Russia while Europeans developed such long-range missiles themselves.
Cargo ship attacked near Strait of Hormuz - ICYMI
Monday 4 May 2026 13:51 , Alex CroftA cargo ship near the Strait of Hormuz said it was attacked by multiple small aircraft, the British military's United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations center reported.
It was the latest in at least two dozen attacks in and around the strait since the Iran war began, and a reminder of the risks if the new US effort goes forward.
All crew on the unidentified northbound cargo ship were safe after the attack off Sirik, Iran, east of the strait, the British monitor said.
Iranian officials have asserted that they control the strait and that ships not affiliated with the US or Israel can pass if they pay a toll, challenging the freedom of navigation guaranteed by international law.
Iran denied an attack, the semiofficial Iranian outlets Fars and Tabnak reported, and said a passing ship had been stopped for a documents check as part of monitoring.
It was the first reported attack in the area since 22 April.
Two US-flagged merchant vessels have crossed through Hormuz Strait, Central Command says
Monday 4 May 2026 13:35 , Maryam Zakir-HussainTwo US-flagged merchant vessels have crossed through the Strait of Hormuz as US Navy guided-missile destroyers operate in the gulf, US Central Command said on Monday.
"American forces are actively assisting efforts to restore transit for commercial shipping," it said in a statement.
U.S. Navy guided-missile destroyers are currently operating in the Arabian Gulf after transiting the Strait of Hormuz in support of Project Freedom. American forces are actively assisting efforts to restore transit for commercial shipping. As a first step, 2 U.S.-flagged merchant… pic.twitter.com/SVDxDhK72I
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) May 4, 2026
What did Trump promise to cargo ships in the Strait of Hormuz?
Monday 4 May 2026 13:32 , Alex CroftIn a lengthy Truth Social post, Donald Trump warned ships from “innocent bystander” countries not involved in the war he started with Iran in February were running low on food and other supplies.
“Countries from all over the World, almost all of which are not involved in the Middle Eastern dispute going on so visibly, and violently, for all to see, have asked the United States if we could help free up their Ships, which are locked up in the Strait of Hormuz, on something which they have absolutely nothing to do with,” the president wrote late Sunday.
“They are merely neutral and innocent bystanders! For the good of Iran, the Middle East, and the United States, we have told these Countries that we will guide their Ships safely out of these restricted Waterways, so that they can freely and ably get on with their business.”
U.S. Central Command (Centcom) – the division of the Pentagon responsible for the Middle East – announced that 15,000 troops, more than 100 aircraft, and a number of guided-missile destroyers would be involved in the effort.
“The Ship movement is merely meant to free up people, companies, and Countries that have done absolutely nothing wrong — They are victims of circumstance,” Trump continued.
“I think it would go a long way in showing Goodwill on behalf of all of those who have been fighting so strenuously over the last number of months.
“If, in any way, this Humanitarian process is interfered with, that interference will, unfortunately, have to be dealt with forcefully.”
Pictured: Ships stranded in Strait of Hormuz as Trump vows to guide them free
Monday 4 May 2026 13:16 , Alex Croft
US transfers crew of captured Iranian ship to Pakistan for repatriation
Monday 4 May 2026 13:01 , Alex CroftCrew members of the Iranian ship captured in the Gulf of Oman last month have been taken to Pakistan for repatriation to Iran, a spokesperson for US Central Command has said.
“Today, US forces completed the transfer of 22 crew members of M/V Touska to Pakistan for repatriation,” Captain Tim Hawkins told ABC News.
“Custody of Touska is currently being transferred back to its original ownership after the ship was intercepted and seized when attempting to violate the US naval blockade against Iran last month,” he added.
The US had captured the ship on 20 April.
Oil jumps by 5 per cent Monday after Iran claims it prevented US ship from entering Strait of Hormuz
Monday 4 May 2026 12:45 , Alex CroftBrent crude oil jumped over 5 per cent on Monday and the dollar strengthened after Iran's navy said it had prevented a US warship from entering the Strait of Hormuz and had been struck by two Iranian missiles.
US Central Command denied a US Navy ship was hit by any missiles.
Iran's military had earlier on Monday warned US forces not to enter the Strait of Hormuz after Donald Trump said the US would start helping to free ships stranded in the Gulf.
Against this backdrop, Brent crude surged over $5 to $113.65 per barrel, having recovered from an initial decline during Asian trading hours.
Analysts said, however, high prices were not sustainable longer term because of their impact on demand and the economy.
"The market is being pulled in two opposing directions right now: on one hand, geopolitical risk is pushing oil higher and reviving inflation fears, but on the other, underlying growth especially in the US, is clearly softening," said Bruno Schneller, managing partner at Erlen Capital Management, a multi-family office.
If Trump really wants shipping to flow through the Strait of Hormuz it’s time he enacted Operation Retreat
Monday 4 May 2026 12:31 , Alex CroftAt first glance, the latest product of the strategic mind of Donald J Trump looks promising, not to say valiant and brave. “Project Freedom”, so much more gentle-sounding and uplifting than operations Midnight Hammer and Epic Fury, is nothing less than, in his words, a “humanitarian gesture” designed to rescue “neutral and innocent” crews stranded for weeks and build “goodwill” in the conflict. It’s all very well, but there are at least three things wrong with the project that suggest it’s not been fully thought through. Quelle surprise, as they say in Tehran.
First, according to Trump, the project sounds like it’s almost a joint operation with Iran, a sort of modern maritime version of the Christmas Day truce between the Germans and the British, when Tommies and Fritzes emerged from the trenches to play football and swap stories. Trump, with chutzpah unusual even for him, declares he’s doing all this on behalf of the “United States, Middle Eastern Countries but, in particular, the Country of Iran.” Which is odd, because this restriction on shipping in the Strait of Hormuz is Iran’s blockade, not his own, and he’s not proposing to lift his own embargo on traffic moving into and out of Iran’s ports.
Sean O’Grady writes:
If Trump really wants shipping to flow, it’s time he enacted Operation Retreat
US Central Command says no navy ships struck by Iranian forces
Monday 4 May 2026 12:11 , Alex CroftWe’ve now heard from US Central Command, which has said no US navy ships have been struck by Iranian forces.
It comes after Tehran asserted it had forced a US warship to turn back, with semi-official Fars news agency saying it had struck a ship with two missiles.
“No U.S. Navy ships have been struck. U.S. forces are supporting Project Freedom and enforcing the naval blockade on Iranian ports,” Centcom said on X.
🚫 CLAIM: Iranian state media claims that Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps hit a U.S. warship with two missiles.
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) May 4, 2026
✅ TRUTH: No U.S. Navy ships have been struck. U.S. forces are supporting Project Freedom and enforcing the naval blockade on Iranian ports. pic.twitter.com/VFxovxLU6G
US official denies ship struck by Iranian missiles - report
Monday 4 May 2026 11:51 , Alex CroftA US official has denied that a US ship was struck by Iranian missiles, according to Axios reporter Barak Ravid on X.
Iranian state media has claimed that Iranian forces fired two missiles at a US warship that was trying to pass through the Strait of Hormuz.
The warship, it said. was turned back .
What is Fars news agency?
Monday 4 May 2026 11:43 , Alex CroftFars news agency describes itself as “Iran’s leading independent news agency”.
It is known to be closely affiliated to Iran’s powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), and is generally described as a “semi-official” news agency of the Iranian government.
This means it generally acts as a government-aligned news outlet.
Fars news agency reported that two Iranian missiles have struck a US warship in the Strait of Hormuz - we are waiting on other sources to help confirm this.
Breaking: Iranian missiles hit US warship in Strait of Hormuz, state media reports
Monday 4 May 2026 11:19 , Alex CroftIranian forces fired two missiles at a US warship intending to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, Fars news agency has reported.
The warship was turned back after ignoring Tehran’s warning that any US vessels entering the strait will come under attack.
The two missiles struck the vessel when it was sailing near Jask island, local sources told Fars.
But this attack is yet to be confirmed by independent sources or by the US - it is only the IRGC-affiliated news agency that has reported it so far.
Trump says ‘Project Freedom’ will guide ‘innocent bystander’ ships through Strait of Hormuz
Monday 4 May 2026 11:14 , Alex CroftPresident Donald Trump has promised the U.S. will guide ships through the blocked Strait of Hormuz from Monday as part of a “humanitarian gesture” dubbed Project Freedom.
In a lengthy Truth Social post, Trump warned ships from “innocent bystander” countries not involved in the war he started with Iran in February were running low on food and other supplies.
“Countries from all over the World, almost all of which are not involved in the Middle Eastern dispute going on so visibly, and violently, for all to see, have asked the United States if we could help free up their Ships, which are locked up in the Strait of Hormuz, on something which they have absolutely nothing to do with,” the president wrote late Sunday.
Oisin Mcilroy reports:
Trump says US will guide ‘innocent bystander’ ships through Strait of Hormuz
Iran reviews US response to its peace proposal
Monday 4 May 2026 10:51 , Alex CroftOfficials in Iran are reviewing the US response to its peace proposal, which envisaged an end to the war and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.
A ceasefire was agreed four weeks ago to allow for negotiations, and US and Iranian officials held one round of talks. But attempts to set up further meetings have so far failed.
Iranian state media said on Sunday Washington had conveyed its response to Iran's 14-point proposal via Pakistan, and that Tehran was now reviewing it.
Neither side gave further details.
Tehran envisages ending the war on all fronts - including Israel's attacks on Lebanon - and resolving the standoff in the Strait of Hormuz, while leaving talks on Iran's nuclear programme for later.
Washington wants Tehran to give up its stockpile of more than 400 kg (900 pounds) of highly enriched uranium, which the United States says could power a bomb.
Dismantling Iran’s nuclear capabilities is one of the Trump administrations crucial goals in the war.
Iran's unveils new map of Strait of Hormuz under their control, state media says
Monday 4 May 2026 10:17 , Alex CroftIran's Revolutionary Guards navy have issued a new map of the area of the Strait of Hormuz under its control on Monday, state media reported.
The area starts in the west with a line between the westernmost tip of Iran's Qeshm island to the United Arab Emirates' Umm al Quwain emirate.
In the east, the area stops at a line between Iran's Mount Mobarak and the UAE's Emirate of Fujairah.
It was not immediately clear if and to what extent their claimed area of control has changed.
We’re working to bring you an image of the map.
Iran condemns UAE's exit from OPEC as 'vengeful'
Monday 4 May 2026 09:49 , Alex CroftAny exit from OPEC as a "negative or vengeful reaction toward members is not constructive," Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said on Monday.
The United Arab Emirates said last week it will leave OPEC effective 1 May, stripping the oil cartel of its third-largest producer and further weakening its leverage over global oil supplies and prices.
Mr Baghaei added Iran would retain its commitments within OPEC and blamed the UAE for demonstrating "inappropriate behaviour" in assisting Israel and the US during the war against it.
US navy will be attacked if it enters Strait of Hormuz - Iran
Monday 4 May 2026 09:21 , Alex CroftAs we earlier reported, Iran has warned the US against entering the Strait of Hormuz, after Donald Trump said his navy would begin to free stranded commercial ships in the waterway.
We can now bring you more from Iranian officials.
Tehran’s forces would "respond harshly" to any threat, it said, ordering commercial ships and oil tankers to refrain from any movement in the absence of coordination with Iran's military.
"We have repeatedly said the security of the Strait of Hormuz is in our hands and that the safe passage of vessels needs to be coordinated with the armed forces," Ali Abdollahi, the head of the forces' unified command, said in the statement.
"We warn that any foreign armed forces, especially the aggressive US army, will be attacked if they intend to approach and enter the Strait of Hormuz."
Nato countries have 'gotten message' from Trump, says Rutte
Monday 4 May 2026 09:00 , Alex CroftEuropean nations have "gotten the message" from Donald Trump and are now ensuring that agreements on the use of military bases are being implemented, Nato secretary general Mark Rutte said on Monday.
Trump has accused some Nato nations of not doing enough to support the United States in the Iran war, and announced on Friday plans to withdraw 5,000 troops from Germany.
"Yes, there has been some disappointment from the US side, but Europeans have listened," Mr Rutte told reporters at a European Political Community summit in Armenia.
"They are now making sure that all the bilateral basing agreements are being implemented," he said.
Nato member Spain has said that military bases on its territory cannot be used for the war with Iran. But Mr Rutte said other Nato countries such as Montenegro, Croatia, Romania, Portugal, Greece, Italy, Britain, France and Germany were implementing requests for the use of bases and other logistical support.
Israel issues evacuation threat in Lebanon
Monday 4 May 2026 08:39 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarThe Israeli military has ordered residents to evacuate the municipalities of Qana, Debaal, Qaaqaait al-Jisr and Srifa in southern Lebanon.
Those asked to flee must move at least 1,000m away from their residences to open areas, the Israeli military said this morning.
The warning comes after reports that Israeli forces bombed the towns of Khiam and Qantara overnight.
Israeli forces also dropped flares over Braachit during the night and shelled the outskirts of the towns of Safad El Battikh, Yater, Majdel Selm, and Chaitiyeh, according to state media.
US evacuates 22 crew members on seized Iranian ship to Pakistan
Monday 4 May 2026 08:18 , Alex CroftThe US has evacuated 22 crew members held aboard an Iranian container vessel to Pakistan and will hand them over to Iranian authorities on Monday, Pakistan's foreign ministry said.
The ministry described the move as a "confidence-building measure".
"The Iranian ship will also be backloaded to Pakistani territorial waters for return to its original owners after necessary repairs," the ministry said in a statement.
Oil prices hold steady
Monday 4 May 2026 08:00 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkaril prices held steady after US president Donald Trump said the US would help ships leave the Strait of Hormuz, starting on Monday.
Iran has rejected the plan, but Trump also said talks with Iran could lead to positive outcomes.
A statement from the US Central Command said support would include guided-missile destroyers, over 100 land- and sea-based aircraft and 15,000 service members. A report from Axios later claimed the Navy would not necessarily escort ships through the strait.
More here.
Oil prices hold steady after Trump says US to help ships leave Strait of Hormuz
U.S.-led task force tells ships to reroute on first day of new effort to reopen the Strait of Hormuz
Monday 4 May 2026 07:51 , Alex CroftThe United States kicked off an effort to “guide” stranded ships from the Iran-gripped Strait of Hormuz, as it tries to counter economic disruptions that outlasted the peak of fighting with no peace deal in sight.
A day after U.S. President Donald Trump announced what he called “Project Freedom,” the Joint Maritime Information Center said Monday that the U.S. had set up an “enhanced security area” south of typical shipping routes and urged mariners to coordinate closely with Omani authorities “due to anticipated high traffic volume.” The strait sits between Iranian and Omani territory.
Our full report:
U.S.-led task force tells ships to reroute on first day of new effort to reopen the Strait of Hormuz
US to use 15,000 troops in 'Project Freeom' mission
Monday 4 May 2026 07:50 , Alex CroftWe’ve had an update from US Central Command (Centcom) on how Donald Trump’ “Project Freedom” will free ships from the Strait of Hormuz.
Centcom will support Project Freedom from Monday, to “restore freedom of navigation for commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz”, it said in a statement on Sunday.
The US will use 15,000 troops in the mission, alongside guided-missile destroyers and more than 100 aircraft.
"Our support for this defensive mission is essential to regional security and the global economy as we also maintain the naval blockade," Admiral Brad Cooper said.
Iran warns US navy against entering Strait of Hormuz
Monday 4 May 2026 07:12 , Alex CroftIranian forces have warned the US against entering the Strait of Hormuz, after the US announced it would begin an effort on Monday to free ships stranded in the waterway.
A statement from the unified command of Iran's armed forces, reported in Iranian media, said it has “repeatedly said the security of the Strait of Hormuz is in our hands and that the safe passage of vessels needs to be coordinated with the armed forces”.
Iranian and Pakistani foreign ministers speak on phone
Monday 4 May 2026 06:50 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarPakistani foreign minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar held a telephone conversation with Iranian counterpart Seyed Abbas Araqchi last night, where both parties discussed the regional situation and Pakistan's ongoing diplomatic efforts, Islamabad said this morning.
Araghchi "appreciated Pakistan for the constructive role and sincere mediation efforts between the parties”, the ministry said in a post on X.
It said Dar "reaffirmed Pakistan’s continued commitment to promoting constructive engagement and underscored that dialogue and diplomacy remain the only viable path toward peaceful resolution of issues and achieving lasting peace and stability in the region and beyond".
Foreign workers in Mideast face war risks and economic pressure at home
Monday 4 May 2026 06:26 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarHe had met his six-year-old son only once. A few days together in a life otherwise spent apart.
For 15 years, Mohammad Abdullah Al Mamun worked in Saudi Arabia, sending money home to his family in one of the poorest areas of Bangladesh.
This year, he had planned to return, build a larger house with his savings and spend time with the child he barely knew.
Then, on 8 March, a missile struck his workers’ camp. He suffered severe burns and later died. He was among more than two dozen foreign workers killed across the Mideast after the US and Israel went to war with Iran in February.
Tens of millions of foreign workers have helped build the Gulf Arab states' modern, oil-fueled economies, with many not fully sharing in their prosperity.
Now they face an even sharper dilemma: Keep working in the Mideast, where wages are far higher, hoping that a shaky ceasefire endures; or return to already poor countries where prices have soared because of the conflict.
More here.
For foreign workers in the Mideast, risk from the Iran war collides with economic strain at home
US transfers crew of captured Iranian ship to Pakistan for repatriation
Monday 4 May 2026 06:16 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarCrew members of the Iranian ship captured in the Gulf of Oman last month have been taken to Pakistan for repatriation to Iran, a spokesperson for US Central Command has said.
“Today, US forces completed the transfer of 22 crew members of M/V Touska to Pakistan for repatriation,” Captain Tim Hawkins told ABC News.
“Custody of Touska is currently being transferred back to its original ownership after the ship was intercepted and seized when attempting to violate the US naval blockade against Iran last month,” he added.
The US had captured the ship on 20 April.
Iran warns Trump's Hormuz bid will violate ceasefire
Monday 4 May 2026 05:45 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarA senior Iranian lawmaker has warned that US involvement in managing shipping through the Strait of Hormuz would constitute a violation of the ceasefire.
Ibrahim Azizi said, “any American interference in the new maritime regime of the Strait of Hormuz will be considered a violation of the ceasefire".
He dismissed the idea that the waterway could be directed by Washington, saying the Strait of Hormuz and the Persian Gulf “would not be managed by Trump’s delusional posts".
“No one would believe Blame Game scenarios!” he added.
Smoke rises following an explosion in Lebanon
Monday 4 May 2026 05:30 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
Iran executes three men involved in January protests
Monday 4 May 2026 05:15 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarIran has reportedly executed three men involved in anti-government protests that took place nationwide in January.
Earlier this year, hundreds of thousands of people had taken to the streets in Iran in the hope of overthrowing the then-supreme leader Ali Khamenei’s regime.
Oil slips after Trump says US will help free stranded ships in Hormuz
Monday 4 May 2026 05:02 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarOil prices eased this morning after US president Donald Trump said the US would begin an effort to free up ships stranded in the Strait of Hormuz.
Brent crude futures fell 64 cents, or 0.59 per cent, to $107.53 a barrel after settling down $2.23 on Friday.
US West Texas Intermediate was at $101.10 a barrel, down 84 cents, or 0.82 per cent, following a $3.13 loss on Friday.
"For the good of Iran, the Middle East, and the United States, we have told these Countries that we will guide their Ships safely out of these restricted Waterways, so that they can freely and ably get on with their business," Donald Trump wrote in a post on his Truth Social site.
Iran reviews US response to its latest proposal
Monday 4 May 2026 05:01 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarIran is reviewing the US response to its latest proposal to end the war, Iran's judiciary Mizan news agency cited foreign ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei as saying.
But "at this stage, we have no nuclear negotiations," Baghaei said. Iran's nuclear program and enriched uranium have long been the central issue in tensions with the US, but Tehran would rather address it later.
Iran's proposal wants other issues resolved within 30 days and aims to end the war rather than extend the ceasefire, according to Iran's state-linked media. Trump on Saturday said he was reviewing the proposal but expressed doubt it would lead to a deal.
Iran's 14-point proposal calls for the US lifting sanctions on Iran, ending the US naval blockade of Iranian ports, withdrawing forces from the region and ceasing all hostilities, including Israel's operations in Lebanon, according to reports.
Pakistan's prime minister, foreign minister and army chief continue to encourage the US and Iran to speak directly, according to two officials in Pakistan who spoke on condition of anonymity.
Pakistan hosted face-to-face talks last month and has passed messages between the two sides.
New Hormuz Strait initiative won't necessarily involve US Navy - report
Monday 4 May 2026 05:00 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarThe new Hormuz Strait initiative will not necessarily include US Navy ships escorting commercial ships, Axios reported.
US Navy ships will be "in the vicinity" in the event they need to prevent Iran's military from attacking commercial ships moving through strait, according to the report.
Trump's 'Project Freedom' to begin today
Monday 4 May 2026 05:00 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarThe US will launch an effort to "guide" stranded ships from the Iran-gripped Strait of Hormuz, president Donald Trump said, giving few details about what could be a sweeping attempt to help hundreds of vessels and some 20,000 seafarers.
Iran quickly denounced it as a ceasefire violation.Trump said in a social media post that "neutral and innocent" countries have been affected by the Iran war, and "we have told these Countries that we will guide their Ships safely out of these restricted Waterways, so that they can freely and ably get on with their business."
"Project Freedom" would begin on Monday morning in the Middle East, Trump said, adding that his representatives are having discussions with Iran that could lead to something "very positive for all."
US Central Command said the initiative would involve guided-missile destroyers, more than 100 aircraft and 15,000 service members.
Cargo ship attacked near Strait of Hormuz
Monday 4 May 2026 05:00 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarA cargo ship near the Strait of Hormuz said it was attacked by multiple small aircraft, the British military's United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations center reported.
It was the latest in at least two dozen attacks in and around the strait since the Iran war began, and a reminder of the risks if the new US effort goes forward.
All crew on the unidentified northbound cargo ship were safe after the attack off Sirik, Iran, east of the strait, the British monitor said.
Iranian officials have asserted that they control the strait and that ships not affiliated with the US or Israel can pass if they pay a toll, challenging the freedom of navigation guaranteed by international law.
Iran denied an attack, the semiofficial Iranian outlets Fars and Tabnak reported, and said a passing ship had been stopped for a documents check as part of monitoring.
It was the first reported attack in the area since 22 April.
Briefing: What we know on the 66th day of Iran war
Monday 4 May 2026 04:59 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar- Donald Trump has said in a social media post the US will launch an effort on Monday to “guide” stranded ships from the Iran-gripped Strait of Hormuz as “neutral and innocent” countries have been affected by the Iran war
- A cargo ship near the Strait of Hormuz said it was attacked by multiple small aircraft, the British military’s United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations centre reported
- Iran said it is reviewing the US response to its latest proposal to end the war, but at this stage, "there were no nuclear negotiations"
- Oil prices eased on Monday as brent crude futures fell 64 cents, or 0.59 per cent, to $107.53 a barrel
Oil prices hold steady after Trump says US to help ships leave Hormuz
Monday 4 May 2026 21:57 , Bryony GoochOil prices hold steady after Trump says US to help ships leave Strait of Hormuz
