Iran says US at risk of being dragged into a 'quagmire.' Updates
Leaders across the globe called on Iran Monday evening to de-escalate tensions in the Middle East after the country launched attacks on the United Arab Emirates, putting the ceasefire agreement to its most challenging test yet.
"Today's Iranian strikes against Emirati civilian infrastructure are unjustified and unacceptable," French President Emmanuel Macron said in a statement. "A lasting solution to the ongoing conflict will only come through the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz to free circulation and a robust agreement that provides the necessary security guarantees to the countries of the region, particularly against the threats posed by Iran in nuclear, ballistic, and regional destabilization activities."
The attacks on the United Arab Emirates, which sparked a blaze at an oil facility and left three people injured, come as the United States launched "Project Freedom," an effort to reopen the Strait of Hormuz to commercial traffic. Military officials said they sank six small Iranian boats in connection with the operation.
U.S. Central Command, the military arm that oversees operations in the Middle East, said two American-flagged vessels successfully passed through the strait on Monday. Iranian officials disputed those claims.
Escalating tensions on the water come as peace talks between the two sides apparently stall. World leaders urged a renewal of negotiations mediated by Pakistan.
Meanwhile, average gas prices nationwide climbed to $4.48 per gallon, according to GasBuddy.
France, Canada slam Iranian attacks as 'unjustified'
Michael Loria
World leaders from Canada to Saudi Arabia slammed Iran's attacks on the United Arab Emirates on Monday, calling on the war’s participants to return to the negotiating table.
"Today's Iranian strikes against Emirati civilian infrastructure are unjustified and unacceptable," said French President Emmanuel Macron.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said his country "strongly condemns Iran’s unprovoked missile and drone attacks on the United Arab Emirates."
The strong condemnation comes as the ceasefire appears more fragile than ever.
"The Ministry of Foreign Affairs expresses the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's concern regarding the current military escalation in the region," officials said in a translated post on X, adding that the conflict "calls for the necessity of de-escalation, refraining from further escalation, exercising restraint, and supporting the Pakistani mediation and diplomatic efforts to reach a political solution that prevents the region from sliding into further tension."
Iran's foreign minister: US at risk of being dragged into a 'quagmire'
Michael Loria
Iran's Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi warned Monday that escalating tensions at sea risk dragging the United States into a "quagmire."
"Events in Hormuz make clear that there's no military solution to a political crisis," Araghchi said in a statement at around 1 a.m. in Tehran. "The U.S. should be wary of being dragged back into quagmire by ill-wishers. So should the UAE."
The foreign minister's statement comes hours after U.S. military officials confirmed they sank six Iranian small boats and the United Arab Emirates reported coming under attack from Iranian missiles and drones.
At issue is the Strait of Hormuz, which both sides are vying to control.
Araghchi indicated there’s still hope for a diplomatic solution, saying "talks are making progress with Pakistan's gracious effort."
Trump rejects polls showing unpopularity of Iran war
Francesca Chambers
President Donald Trump disputed public polling that shows the U.S. war with Iran is unpopular, telling an audience during an East Room event that Americans would take a different stance if they understood he was trying to keep Iran from having a nuclear weapon.
He also argued without evidence that the surveys are made up.
A Washington Post-ABC News-Ipsos poll released on Sunday showed 33% of Americans approved of Trump's approach to the war. Meanwhile, 66% said they disapproved.
Commenting on surveys that show many Americans don't support the ongoing conflict, Trump told his audience he also doesn't like war. "I don't like it, I don't like war at all," Trump said.
Trump on Iran war: 'Call it whatever you want'
Francesca Chambers
President Donald Trump told Congress in a letter last week that he'd "terminated" hostilities with Iran and told reporters all that remained was a "friendly blockade" that wasn't being challenged.
But after the U.S. military revealed on Monday that it sank six Iranian boats it says were targeting commercial ships, Trump referred to the ongoing war as a "military operation, call it whatever you want" during an East Room event. He said the United States did a "little detour" into Iran to keep the country from obtaining a nuclear weapon.
Trump said the conflict that's paused as part of an indefinite ceasefire "is going very well."
UAE says it's 'fully prepared' to deal with threats from Iran
Rebecca Morin
The United Arab Emirates on Monday said it’s “fully prepared” to deal with any threats after the country’s air defense systems engaged 12 ballistic missiles, 3 cruise missiles and 4 UAVs, or drones, launched from Iran.
“The Ministry of Defence affirmed that it remains fully prepared and ready to deal with any threats and will firmly confront anything that aims to undermine the security of the country, in a manner that ensures the protection of its sovereignty, security and stability and safeguards its interests and national capabilities,” UAE’s Ministry of Defense said in a statement posted on social media.
Monday’s attacks from Iran to the UAE resulted in 3 moderate injuries, officials added in the statement.
UAE implements 'distance learning' after Iran attacks
Rebecca Morin
The United Arab Emirates announced that it will implement “distance learning” from May 5-8, following attempted attacks from Iran.
“This measure is being taken to ensure the safety and wellbeing of the educational community,” UAE’s Ministry of Education said in a post on X, adding the period may be extended if necessary.
The UAE intercepted several missiles from Iran earlier Monday and said an Iranian drone attack caused a fire at an oil installation in Fujairah, a port in the Gulf of Oman that lies beyond the Strait of Hormuz.
Trump says Iran has 'taken some shots' amid new Strait of Hormuz initiative
Christopher Cann
President Donald Trump on Monday said Iran has "taken some shots" at nations "unrelated" to the ongoing U.S. effort to guide ships out of the Strait of Hormuz.
Trump said a South Korean ship near the strategic waterway was targeted by Iran. South Korean officials said the government was investigating the cause of a fire that broke out Monday on a bulk carrier.
"Perhaps it’s time for South Korea to come and join the mission!" Trump said in a social media post, adding: "We’ve shot down seven small Boats or, as they like to call them, 'fast' Boats. It’s all they have left. Other than the South Korean Ship, there has been, at this moment, no damage going through the Strait."
He added that Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth and Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, will host a news conference on the effort Tuesday morning.
US sank 6 boats threatening commercial ships
Cybele Mayes-Osterman
The U.S. military took down Iranian cruise missiles and drones and sank six small boats that were threatening commercial ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz in the last 12 hours, according to Adm. Brad Cooper, the commander of U.S. Central Command.
The U.S. military used AH-64 Apache and MH-60 Seahawk helicopters to sink the six Iranian ships, Cooper told reporters on a May 4 call. Some of the cruise missiles fired by Iran were also targeting U.S. Navy vessels, he added.
Cooper said no American Navy ships had been hit. Iranian media had reported that two U.S. ships were struck.
"The U.S. forces are helping the international community in restoring the flow of global commerce," Cooper said. Iran "is doing everything it can to terrorize and threaten commercial shipping," he said.
Cooper said "Project Freedom," as the U.S. military has dubbed its operation to open a passage for commercial ships through the Strait of Hormuz, is a defensive operation that is separate from its ongoing effort to blockade Iranian ports.
UAE intercepts three missiles from Iran
Rebecca Morin
The United Arab Emirates intercepted three missiles over its territorial waters that were fired from Iran, according to the country’s Defense Ministry. A fourth missile fell into the sea, the agency said.
Blasts heard in areas across the country were “the result of the successful interception of the aerial threats,” defense officials posted on X.
The nation urged residents to adhere to all public safety measures and follow information only from official channels. The United States has an ongoing travel advisory to the UAE to reconsider travel to the country due to “the threat of armed conflict and terrorism.”
Protester to end demonstration atop Washington bridge
Christopher Cann
An activist who has been perched atop a bridge in Washington said he will soon end his demonstration and climb down.
Guido Reichstadter, 45, scaled the Frederick Douglass Memorial Bridge on Friday in protest of the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran, among other issues. For three days, Reichstadter has slept in a tent on top of the bridge's white arch, speaking with media outlets by phone and posting on X.
Late on Sunday night, Reichstadter said he would "soon be leaving the bridge." He thanked his supporters and called on others to engage in nonviolent protest to oppose the Trump administration and what he described as "hateful wars."
Fire breaks out on South Korean ship near Strait of Hormuz, reports say
Christopher Cann
The South Korean government is verifying reports that one of the country's ships sailing near the Strait of Hormuz came under attack on Monday, multiple Korean outlets reported.
A South Korean shipper told Reuters that a fire broke out in the engine room of one of its bulk carriers in the Strait of Hormuz, adding that the cause of the blaze was still under investigation. The company said there were no reports of casualties or injuries, Reuters reported.
Bessent says US in control of Strait of Hormuz
Christopher Cann
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Monday said the United States is reopening the Strait of Hormuz and is in control of the strategic waterway.
In an interview on Fox News' "America's Newsroom," Bessent said America is "opening" the waterway as part of a "humanitarian effort" to free ships stranded along the trade route.
He added that the Trump administration will be watching to see whether China tries to get Iran to comply with U.S. efforts to restore commercial shipping in the Persian Gulf.
Oil price up; gas tops $6 in California
Andrea Riquier
Oil was pushing higher Monday morning, nudging gas prices well above $4 a gallon as the stalemate in the Strait of Hormuz dragged on.
Brent crude, the global oil benchmark, was trading above $110 a barrel on Monday morning. That’s lower than levels reached late last week. Gas prices averaged $4.46 a gallon of regular unleaded, according to AAA’s national tracker. California’s statewide average was $6.11, however.
The rise in energy costs is weighing on other assets in the market. Treasury yields were higher: the U.S. 10-year note gained nearly 2 basis points to 4.397% on Monday. Yields rise as prices fall, and traders sell bonds when they expect higher inflation.
Stocks also looked set to open the day lower.
2 US-flagged ships transit Strait of Hormuz, CENTCOM says
Christopher Cann
Two U.S.-flagged vessels have transited through the Strait of Hormuz as Navy missile destroyers operate in the Arabian Gulf, U.S. Central Command said on Monday.
Central Command called the ships' journey a "first step," and added that "American forces are actively assisting efforts to restore transit for commercial shipping."
Cooper flew near Strait of Hormuz as commercial shipping prepares to resume
Bart Jansen
Adm. Brad Cooper, who oversees U.S. Central Command conducting the war on Iran, flew over waters in and near the Strait of Hormuz in an AH-64 Apache helicopter on Sunday, as the military prepared to support ships moving through the key waterway.
Cooper also visited troops on Saturday aboard two Navy ships patrolling the Arabian Sea, the command said in a post on social media.
US military denies Iranian reports that two ships were struck
Bart Jansen
U.S. Central Command, which oversees the war on Iran, denied reports in Tehran’s state media that two U.S. ships had been struck by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
“No U.S. Navy ships have been struck,” the command said on social media. “U.S. forces are supporting Project Freedom and enforcing the naval blockade on Iranian ports.”
Where do US-Iran negotiations stand?
Christopher Cann
Iran on Sunday said it was reviewing a U.S. response to its latest proposal for peace talks, but said that negotiations would not immediately involve discussions about its nuclear program.
The White House did not confirm whether it had responded to Iran's latest proposal.
On Saturday, Trump said he had not yet reviewed the proposition but said he would likely reject it, writing in a social media post that the Middle Eastern country has "not yet paid a big enough price." When asked by reporters if he's considering resuming strikes on Iran, the president said there's a "possibility that could happen," if they "misbehave."
It remains unclear how the U.S. initiative to free ships stranded in the Strait of Hormuz will impact future peace talks.
Navy ships won't escort vessels through Strait of Hormuz: Reports
Christopher Cann
The initiative announced by Trump will not immediately involve U.S. Navy warships escorting commercial ships through the Strait of Hormuz, multiple news outlets reported.
The new mechanism will see ships in the vicinity to prevent Iran's military from firing at commercial ships but will not necessarily involve Navy warships escorting tankers through the strategic waterway, The Wall Street Journal and Axios reported, citing U.S. officials.
The effort sees the U.S. Navy providing commercial ships with the location of Iranian mines, as well as the safest routes to navigate, the outlets reported.