UAE ‘condemns’ Iran drone attack on oil tanker in Hormuz strait

This live blog follows updates for Day 66 of the US-Israel war on Iran. For a recap of Day 65, go here.

• Iran urges European nations to adopt 'independent stance'
• Iran's Foreign Ministry reaffirms commitment to safeguarding national interest 
• Iran military says US forces will be attacked if they enter Hormuz
• Macron urges 'coordinated reopening' of Hormuz by US, Iran
• Israel issues displacement threat for four municipalities in Lebanon

Iran says had 'no pre-planned programme' to attack UAE: Report

Published: May 4, 2026 | 21:33 GMT | by AFP

Iran had "no pre-planned programme" to attack oil facilities in the United Arab Emirates, Iranian state TV said, after the UAE blamed the Islamic republic for a drone strike at an energy installation in Fujairah.

"The Islamic Republic had no pre-planned programme to attack the oil facilities in question, and what happened was the product of the US military's adventurism to create a passage for ships to illegally pass through the forbidden passages of the Strait of Hormuz, and the US military must be held accountable for it," an Iranian military official told state TV.

"US officials must end the ugly behaviour of using force in the diplomatic process and stop military adventurism in this sensitive oil region that affects the economies of all countries in the world."

EU chief calls Iran's strikes on UAE 'violation' of international law

Published: May 4, 2026 | 21:02 GMT | by Web Desk

EU chief Ursula von der Leyen said Iranian attacks on the UAE on Monday were "a clear violation of sovereignty and international law".

"These attacks are unacceptable," she said on X, adding that "security in the (Gulf) region has direct consequences for Europe".

The European Commission president said the EU will work with its partners "on de-escalation and diplomatic resolution, to bring an end to the Iranian regime’s brutal actions. Both against its neighbors and its own people."

EU, Kuwait condemn Iranian attack on UAE, express solidarity

Published: May 4, 2026 | 20:43 GMT | by Web Desk

Kuwait’s FM Sheikh Jarrah Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah spoke to his Emirati counterpart, Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and condemned the “sinful Iranian aggressions”, the Kuwait News Agency reported according to Al Jazeera.

Meanwhile, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen also condemned Iran’s strikes and said that the UAE was once again the target of “vicious missiles and drone attacks”.

“These attacks are unacceptable and constitute a clear violation of sovereignty and international law,” von der Leyen wrote on X.

Germany’s Merz calls on Iran to return to negotiating table after UAE attack

Published: May 4, 2026 | 19:43 GMT | by Web Desk

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has condemned Iran’s attack on the UAE and expressed Berlin’s solidarity with the country and Germany’s partners in the region, Al Jazeera reported. 

“Tehran must return to the negotiating table and stop taking the region and the world hostage: The blockade of the Strait of Hormuz must end. Tehran must not build a nuclear weapon. There must be no further threats or attacks against our partners,” Merz said in a post on X.

World should prepare for energy crisis to last long: Turkish minister

Published: May 4, 2026 | 19:34 GMT | by Web Desk

Turkiye’s ⁠Energy ⁠Minister, Alparslan Bayraktar, says the world should prepare for the energy and supply crisis due to the war to potentially last longer.

Bayraktar told broadcaster TVNet that while Turkiye did not have any supply issues at the moment, developments regarding the Strait of Hormuz ⁠and the UAE’s withdrawal from OPEC added to uncertainties.

Trump warns Iran will be ‘blown off the face of the earth’
Published: May 4, 2026 | 17:53 GMT | by Web Desk

President Donald Trump said Iran would be “blown off the face of the earth” if it attacks US ships guiding vessels through the Strait of Hormuz, according to remarks aired by Fox News.

Speaking with the American news channel’s correspondent Trey Yingst, Trump said Iran has targeted ships involved in what he described as maritime operations in the region, including a South Korean cargo vessel.

He warned of “severe consequences” if US-protected ships are struck.

Trump says Iran targeted vessels, plans military briefing

Published: May 4, 2026 | 17:35 GMT | by Web Desk 

US President Donald Trump said Monday that Iran has “taken some shots at unrelated nations” in connection with maritime activity under what Project Freedom, including a South Korean cargo ship.

In a post on his social media platform, Truth Social, Trump said, “Perhaps it’s time for South Korea to come and join the mission!”

He said US forces have “shot down seven small boats,” which he also described as “fast boats,” adding, “It’s all they have left.”

The US President said that aside from the South Korean ship, there had been no damage “going through the Strait” at the time of his post.

He also announced that Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Dan Caine will hold a news conference on the matter Tuesday morning.

Drone strike causes fire at energy installation in UAE's Fujairah: statement

Published: May 4, 2026 | 14:20 GMT | by Web Desk

A drone strike caused a fire at an energy installation in the emirate of Fujairah, authorities said Monday, following multiple alerts from the government.

"Fujairah Civil Defence teams immediately responded to the incident and are continuing their efforts to control it," the Fujairah media office said in a statement.

UAE defense ministry says engaging missile attacks and 'incoming drones from Iran'

Published: May 4, 2026 | 15:28 GMT | by Web Desk

UAE's air defenses said it is "currently engaging" with missile attacks and incoming drones from Iran, according to a post on its X.  The statement confirmed that sounds were heard in various parts of the country, and are the result of the UAE air defense systems "intercepting ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and drones."

"UAE Air Defences system are actively engaging with missiles and UAV threats," as per the statement.

Iran fires 'warning shots' as US Navy says its ships entered Gulf via Hormuz
Published: May 4, 2026 | 15:25 GMT | by AFP

Iran's navy fired 'warning shots' at US warships in the Strait of Hormuz on Monday, state media said, after the American military sent cruisers into the Gulf as part of a plan to help trapped commercial vessels leave.

Earlier, US President Donald Trump had announced a plan to guide ships from neutral countries out of the Gulf, saying it was a humanitarian effort to help their stranded crews.

"For the good of Iran, the Middle East, and the United States, we have told these (non-combatant) Countries that we will guide their Ships safely out of these restricted Waterways," Trump posted on Truth Social, saying operations would begin on Monday.

Once out, "they will not be returning until the area becomes safe for navigation," Trump added.

In response to Trump, the Iranian military's central command said any safe passage through Hormuz must be coordinated with its forces "under all circumstances".

US media reported that the US Navy would not escort vessels through the strait but rather provide guidance on traversing the narrow seaway. News site Axios said US ships would be "in the vicinity" to prevent Iranian attacks on commercial vessels.

Seoul says 'explosion and fire' on South Korean ship in Hormuz strait
Published: May 4, 2026 | 14:18 GMT | by AFP

Seoul said on Monday that an "explosion and fire" had struck a South Korean ship in the Strait of Hormuz.

The foreign ministry said that, at around 8:40 pm in Seoul (1140 GMT), "an explosion and fire occurred on a vessel operated by a South Korean shipping company... anchored in waters near the United Arab Emirates inside the Strait of Hormuz", adding that there had been "no casualties to date".

There had been "no casualties to date" among the 24 crew members on board, who include six South Koreans and 18 foreign nationals, the ministry said in a statement.

"The cause of the explosion and fire, as well as the specific extent of the damage, are currently being investigated," it said.

The vessel involved, the HMM Namu, is a cargo ship of almost 180 metres (590 feet) sailing under the flag of Panama, data from tracking site MarineTraffic showed.

Rights group says Gaza flotilla activists facing abuse in Israel jail
Published: May 4, 2026 | 14:11 GMT | by AFP

Two foreign activists from a Gaza-bound flotilla who have been detained in Israeli prison are facing psychological abuse, death threats and poor detention conditions, a rights group representing them said Monday.

"Thiago Avila (one of the activists) reported being subjected to repeated interrogations lasting up to eight hours. Interrogators have explicitly threatened him, stating he would either be 'killed' or 'spend 100 years in jail'," rights group Adalah, whose attorneys visited both activists in their detention Monday, said in statement.

Adalah added that a court would decide Tuesday whether to further extend Spanish national Saif Abu Keshek and Brazilian Avila's detention.

US stocks mixed as markets digest latest rise in oil prices
Published: May 4, 2026 | 13:55 GMT | by AFP

Wall Street stocks were mixed early Monday as worries about rising oil prices due to the Middle East war were countered by the robust US corporate earnings outlook.

Oil prices edged higher as Iran's military warned that US forces would be attacked if they entered the Strait of Hormuz, after President Donald Trump said the United States would ‘help’ guide ships through the waterway.

But major indices remain at or near records, a sign "the stock market seems to not really pay much attention" to rising oil prices, said CFRA's Sam Stovall.

About 20 minutes into trading, the Dow Jones Industrial Average was down 0.5% at 49,248.75.

The broad-based S&P 500 was little changed at 7,228.06, while the tech-rich Nasdaq Composite Index climbed 0.2% to 25,160.86.

Stovall said the market is still feeling a high after last week's trove of earnings report, which included updates from tech giants that were mostly well received.

"The focus is on corporate profits and right now first-quarter earnings estimates have doubled compared with what was expected on March 31st," Stovall said. "So really the focus is almost exclusively on this earnings reporting period."

Iran navy fired cruise missile 'warning shot' near US destroyers in Hormuz: state TV
Published: May 4, 2026 | 13:24 GMT | by AFP

The Iranian navy fired cruise missiles, rockets and combat drones near US destroyers crossing the Strait of Hormuz on Monday, state television reported.

It said the navy had identified US destroyers in the Strait of Hormuz and fired multiple warning shots, adding, "following the Zionist American destroyers' disregard for the initial warning, the Navy issued a warning shot by firing cruise missiles, rockets, and combat drones around the aggressor enemy vessels".

The US military meanwhile said two guided-missile destroyers had entered the Gulf.

US navy ships enter Arabian Gulf after transiting Hormuz 

Published: May 4, 2026 | 13:10 GMT| by Web Desk 

The US Central Command reported on Monday that the country’s Navy “guided-missile destroyers” were operating in the Arabian Gulf after transiting the Strait of Hormuz “in support of Project Freedom”.

In a post on X, the US regional command stated that “US forces’ are assisting efforts to restore transit for commercial shipping.

“Two US-flagged merchant vessels have transited the Strait of Hormuz and are continuing their journeys safely,” it said.

UAE ‘condemns’ Iran drone attack on oil tanker in Hormuz strait

Published: May 4, 2026 | 11:03 GMT | by AFP

The UAE on Monday “strongly” condemned a reported Iranian drone attack on an ADNOC oil tanker in the blockaded Strait of Hormuz, as the US was due to start guiding ships through the waterway.

Two drones hit the MV Barakah off the coast of Oman but no one was injured, according to ADNOC, the UAE state oil giant. It added that the ship was not loaded.

"Targeting commercial shipping and using the Strait of Hormuz as a tool of economic coercion or blackmail represents acts of piracy by Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps," the United Arab Emirates foreign ministry said.

Iran's IRGC announce new naval control zone in Strait of Hormuz
Published: May 4, 2026 | 12: 15 GMT | by Web Desk

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has declared a new maritime control zone in the Strait of Hormuz, according to Iranian state media.

The Tasnim News Agency reported that the IRGC has designated the area within the key shipping route. The zone is described as operating under a system of “smart control” by Iran’s armed forces.

Its southern boundary runs from Mount Mobarak in Iran to south of Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates. The western boundary extends from the end of Qeshm Island in Iran to Umm Al Quwain in the United Arab Emirates.

UAE says Iran fired drones at ADNOC oil tanker in Hormuz

Published: May 4, 2026 | 11:49 GMT | by AFP 

The UAE on Monday said Iran fired two drones at a tanker affiliated with its state oil company ADNOC in the Strait of Hormuz, condemning the attack.

"Targeting commercial shipping and using the Strait of Hormuz as a tool of economic coercion or blackmail represents acts of piracy by Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps," the foreign ministry said, adding there were no injuries.

Centcom denies Iranian claim of striking US warship near Hormuz

Published: May 4, 2026 | 11:16 GMT | by Web Desk 

Captain Tim Hawkins, a spokesperson for the US military’s Central Command, was quoted by CBS News on Monday as saying that Iranian media reports claiming an American warship had been hit by two missiles near the Strait of Hormuz were false.

He offered no additional details but dismissed the report from Iran’s Fars news agency, which is linked to the Revolutionary Guard, alleging that a US Navy frigate was struck on Monday amid rising tensions between the two nations in the Persian Gulf.

Iran has cautioned that any vessel attempting to pass through the narrow waterway without its clear approval will be considered a target.

Earlier, Iran's Fars news agency said that the country's forces struck a US Navy frigate in a missile attack in the Strait of Hormuz. The report from Fars came hours after President Donald Trump said US forces would on Monday begin guiding ships through the waterway.

"The frigate, which was sailing in violation of navigation and maritime safety rules near (the port of) Jask, was targeted by a missile attack after ignoring a warning from the Iranian navy," Fars said. "The American frigate that was hit was unable to continue its journey and was forced to turn back and flee the area."

UAE minister says swap line with US 'under discussion'

Published: May 4, 2026 | 09:45 GMT | by AFP 

The UAE's foreign trade minister confirmed on Monday that his country was discussing a currency swap line with the United States, but denied seeking a bailout.

Asked whether the UAE had secured the swap line, Minister of Foreign Trade Thani Al Zeyoudi said it was still "under discussion" during a panel at the Make it in the Emirates conference in Abu Dhabi.

He denied the measure had been sought as a bailout, and said the UAE wanted to join an "elite group" of countries with existing swap lines with the US.

Last month the Wall Street Journal, citing US officials, reported that the UAE had sought the line as a financial backstop should the war in the region further strain its economy.

Iran confirms US peace proposal being ‘reviewed’

Published: May 4, 2026 | 09:35 GMT | by Web Desk 

Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said that officials are examining a US counterproposal to end the war, Al Jazeera reports.

He noted that the US approach of making “excessive and unreasonable demands” makes the proposal “is not easy to review”.

Baghaei also said that media reports about negotiations on Iran’s nuclear program are “mostly speculation”.

“The issues raised about enrichment or nuclear materials are purely speculative and, at this stage, we are not talking about anything other than stopping the war completely, and the direction we will take in the future will be determined in the future.”

Iran's Foreign Ministry reaffirms commitment to safeguarding national interest 

Published: May 4, 2026 | 09:11 GMT | by Web Desk 

Iran’s Foreign Ministry has reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to safeguarding the country’s national interests.

The foreign ministry emphasized that unconventional negotiating tactics by adversaries will not deter its resolve but instead strengthen its determination, according to Iranian Tasnim News Agency.

Iran urges European nations to adopt 'independent stance' 

Published: May 4, 2026 | 08:43 GMT | by Web Desk 

Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei stressed that Tehran had always welcomed constructive engagement from European countries on regional security and nuclear issues, Iranian Tasnim News Agency reported.

He urged European countries to reject US policies and adopt an independent stance.

Dubai airport passenger traffic drops 66% in March

Published: May 4, 2026 | 08:43 GMT | by AFP

Dubai airport's passenger traffic plunged by two-thirds in March, the emirate's media office said in a statement on Monday.

Traveler numbers at Dubai International, usually the world's busiest for international passenger traffic, sank to 2.5 million, down 66% year on year, Dubai Media Office said.

The airport endured "a period of regional disruption that significantly constrained airspace capacity and flight schedules", it said.

"With airspace within the UAE now fully restored, Dubai Airports is moving decisively to scale up operations, increasing flight movements in line with available regional routing capacity."

Dubai International was targeted several times by drones as the oil-rich UAE bore the brunt of Iran's retaliation for US-Israeli strikes.

Quarterly traffic was down 21% to 18.6 million in the first quarter of 2026. 

Dubai International handled a record 95.2 million passengers last year, and had been expecting to receive 99.5 million this year.

"The extraordinary events of the past few weeks are unprecedented for any major airport hub," Dubai Airports CEO Paul Griffiths was quoted as saying in the statement.

Iran foreign ministry says US must 'abandon its excessive demands'

Published: May 4, 2026 | 08:23 GMT | by AFP

Iran's foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said on Monday that the United States must reduce its demands on the Islamic republic, with negotiations stalled over ending the two-month-long Middle East war.

"At this stage, our priority is to end the war," he said in a briefing broadcast by state television. "The other side must commit to a reasonable approach and abandon its excessive demands regarding Iran."

UKMTO says threat level in Hormuz strait remains critical

Published: May 4, 2026 | 07:57 GMT | by AFP

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) says that the maritime security risk in the Strait of Hormuz remains at a critical level because of ongoing military activity, according to Al Jazeera.

The agency advised ships to stay in contact with Omani authorities on VHF channel 16 and to consider navigating through Oman’s territorial waters, south of the traffic separation scheme, where the United States has set up a reinforced security zone.

Earlier, the agency reported that a tanker near Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates had been struck by unidentified projectiles.

“All crew are reported safe, and no environmental damage has been noted,” it added.

Iran military says US forces will be attacked if they enter Hormuz

Published: May 4, 2026 | 06:47 GMT | by AFP

Iran's military said Monday that US forces would be attacked if they entered the Strait of Hormuz, after US President Donald Trump announced Washington would begin escorting ships through the blocked waterway.

"We warn that any foreign armed force -- especially the aggressive US military -- if they intend to approach or enter the Strait of Hormuz, will be targeted and attacked," said Major General Ali Abdollahi of the Iranian military's central command, in a statement carried by state broadcaster IRIB.

"We have repeatedly stated that the security of the Strait of Hormuz is under the control of the armed forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran, and under all circumstances, any safe passage must be coordinated with these forces," he added.

Macron urges 'coordinated reopening' of Hormuz by US, Iran

Published: May 4, 2026 | 06:45 GMT | by AFP

French President Emmanuel Macron urged the United States and Iran Monday to reopen the Strait of Hormuz in a "coordinated" way, as the US military pressed ahead with a mission to escort ships out of the waterway.

"What we want above all is a coordinated reopening by the United States and Iran -- that is the only solution for reopening the Strait of Hormuz," Macron said at a meeting of European leaders in Armenia.

"We are not going to take part in any military operation in a framework that to me seems unclear," said the French leader, whose country has with Britain led efforts to assemble a coalition to reopen the strait once peace is secured.

Israel issues displacement threat for four municipalities in Lebanon

Published: May 4, 2026 | 06:41 GMT | by Web Desk

The Israeli military has warned people living in the southern Lebanese municipalities of Qana, Debaal, Qaaqaait al-Jisr, and Srifa to evacuate their homes, saying an attack is imminent, according to Al Jazeera.

The displaced must move at least 1,000 meters away from their villages and towns to open areas, the statement issued on X by the army’s Arabic-language spokesman Avichay Adraee said.

Israel ‘exploiting’ Greece to advance regional hegemony, UN expert warns

Published: May 4, 2026 | 00:50 GMT | by Web Desk

Israel has chosen Greece to advance its regional ambitions and will exploit Greek fears and insecurity to do so, the UN special rapporteur on Palestine has said according to Al Jazeera.

Speaking at a presentation of her new book, When the World Sleeps: Stories, Words and Wounds of Palestine, at the Trianon cinema in Athens, Francesca Albanese cautioned that some circles in Greece hold the “wrong perception” of their alliance with Israel.

“You think that you have chosen Israel in order to secure peace from your eternal enemy. I don’t think so,” Albanese said. “Israel has picked you. Israel has chosen you, and it’s going to exploit your fears and your insecurity, because this is what Israel does to advance its regional hegemony” .

The event also featured a conversation with former Greek Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis, who remarked that Greece “manifests the greatest example of Israelisation… more than any other country in Europe”.

Albanese specifically criticised Greek authorities for their cooperation with Israel’s interception of the Gaza-bound humanitarian flotilla Sumud off Crete on Friday.

“The fact that the Greek authorities go hand-in-hand with the Israelis in stopping a humanitarian mission is wrong,” she said.

Germany says US remains ‘most important’ NATO partner, despite troop withdrawal

Published: May 3, 2026 | 21:54 GMT | by Web Desk

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has reaffirmed the United States as Germany’s “most important partner in the North Atlantic Alliance,” in an X post, striking a conciliatory tone even as Washington moves ahead with plans to withdraw 5,000 troops from the country, Al Jazeera reported. 

The statement comes days after the Pentagon announced that Defense Secretary Hegseth had ordered the troop drawdown, a move widely seen as a rebuke to Berlin amid transatlantic tensions over the handling of the war on Iran.

Merz had earlier sparred with US President Donald Trump after accusing Iran of “humiliating” the United States in stalled peace talks. Trump threatened the troop reduction shortly after that exchange.

Iran parliament official Azizi warns US any Hormuz intervention violates ceasefire

Published: May 3, 2026 | 23:41 GMT | by Web Desk

The head of the Iranian parliament’s national security commission, Ebrahim Azizi, has warned that any US interference in the maritime regime of the Strait of Hormuz “will be considered a violation of the ceasefire,” Al Jazeera reported. 

In a post on X, Azizi also dismissed what he called US “blame game scenarios,” insisting that the strait and the Gulf will “not be managed by Trump’s delusional posts”, and that they are “not a place for rhetoric.”

As we’ve been reporting, Trump announced a naval mission a short while ago to escort stranded ships through the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran weighs US response to plan 

Published: May 3, 2026 | 22:50 GMT | by Web Desk

Iran's Revolutionary Guards said the United States faced a choice between an "impossible" military operation or a deal with Tehran, after President Donald Trump disparaged Iran's latest peace proposal.

Iran's foreign ministry said Tehran had submitted a 14-point plan "focused on ending the war" and that Washington had already responded to it in a message to Pakistani mediators, which Iran was reviewing.

Project Freedom to begin Monday morning, says President Trump

Published: May 3, 2026 | 21:06 GMT | by Web Desk

President Donald Trump said  that "very positive discussions" were underway with Iran on finding a solution to the war, but nevertheless added US forces will soon start escorting ships out of the blocked Strait of Hormuz.

"I am fully aware that my Representatives are having very positive discussions with the Country of Iran, and that these discussions could lead to something very positive for all," Trump said on his Truth Social platform.

Trump said "countries from all over the world" had requested American aid in navigating through the key waterway and out of the Gulf.

"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," Trump said.

"This process, Project Freedom, will begin Monday morning, Middle East time."

He called it a "humanitarian gesture," saying many of the marooned ships were "running low on food, and everything else necessary for largescale crews to stay on board in a healthy and sanitary manner."

Trump offered few details on how the mission would work. But an operation to guide ships out of the narrow strait could put US service members precariously close to Iranian forces.

In a post on X, US Central Command said that starting Monday, its forces would begin supporting Project Freedom with guided-missile destroyers, over 100 land- and sea-based aircraft, multi-domain unmanned platforms, and 15,000 service members.

"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, CENTCOM commander, said in the post.

Iranian and Spanish foreign ministers discuss efforts to end war

Published: May 3, 2026 | 19:15 GMT | by Web Desk

The foreign ministers of Iran and Spain had a phone call to discuss developments related to the war, as well as bilateral relations, says a statement released by Iran’s Abbas Araghchi, Al Jazeera reported.

The Iranian FM reportedly briefed his Spanish counterpart on Iran’s strategic efforts to end the war through diplomatic efforts, aimed at bringing lasting security to the region.