Stories

Browse major news stories and see what officials have said.

May 5, 2026

Iran Attacks UAE Amid Ceasefire as Rubio Declares Operation Epic Fury Over

On May 4-5, 2026, Iran launched missiles and drones at the UAE's Fujairah oil port — the first Iranian attack on a US Gulf ally since the April 7 ceasefire — while the US Navy sank seven small Iranian military boats in the Strait of Hormuz. The strikes injured three Indian nationals and sparked international condemnation. Despite the attacks, the Trump administration insisted the ceasefire remained intact. Defense Secretary Hegseth said the ceasefire was "not over," and Trump warned Iran it would be "blown off the face of the earth" if it targeted US ships escorting commercial vessels through the strait under Operation Project Freedom. On May 5, Secretary of State Marco Rubio declared that Operation Epic Fury — the 66-day US-Israel offensive bombing campaign against Iran — had officially concluded. The US was now operating in a defensive posture only. Rubio acknowledged that Project Freedom, the effort to escort commercial ships through the strait, would not "solve the whole straits problem": only two ships had successfully transited under US protection since the operation began, compared to roughly 130 per day before the war. Trump separately paused Project Freedom, citing progress toward a deal.

US Navy Fires On and Seizes Iranian Cargo Ship Touska

The US Navy guided-missile destroyer USS Spruance intercepted the Iranian-flagged cargo ship Touska in the Gulf of Oman on April 19, 2026 — the first forcible seizure since the US naval blockade of Iranian ports began. After six hours of warnings, Spruance fired on the Touska's engine room to disable it; US Marines then boarded and took custody. Trump announced on Truth Social that "it did not go well for them" and threatened to "take out their bridges and their power plants" if Iran doesn't sign a deal before the ceasefire expires Wednesday. Iran's joint military command accused the US of "armed piracy" and "violating the ceasefire," vowing the armed forces "will soon respond and retaliate." The seizure threw planned Islamabad peace talks into doubt, with Iran declining to confirm its participation. Iran's parliament speaker Ghalibaf declared it "impossible for others to pass through the Strait of Hormuz while we cannot."

Iran Re-Closes Strait of Hormuz and Fires on Indian Ships

One day after briefly reopening the Strait of Hormuz, Iran's Revolutionary Guard reversed course on April 18, 2026, re-closing the waterway and firing on two Indian-flagged merchant ships — the tanker Sanmar Herald and cargo vessel Jag Arnav — forcing them to turn back. The IRGC warned that "no vessel should make any movement" toward the strait and declared it would remain shut "until the US restores full freedom of navigation for vessels travelling from Iran." The re-closure came after President Trump declared the strait "COMPLETELY OPEN" on Truth Social while simultaneously insisting the US naval blockade on Iran would remain "in full force." Iran accused the US of violating the ceasefire deal by maintaining the blockade. India summoned Iran's ambassador, calling the attack on its ships "completely unacceptable." European allies demanded unconditional reopening of the strait.

Trump Orders U.S. Navy Blockade of Strait of Hormuz

Hours after the Islamabad peace talks collapsed without a deal on April 12, 2026, President Trump announced the U.S. Navy would "immediately" begin blockading the Strait of Hormuz — the chokepoint for 20% of global energy supplies. Trump ordered the Navy to interdict "any and all ships" entering or leaving the strait and to seize vessels that have paid tolls to Iran. Oil prices surged above $100/barrel. The blockade is backed by a mine-clearing operation and a 40+ nation coalition led by the U.K. Iran's Revolutionary Guard warned the U.S. would be "trapped in a deadly vortex" if it made the wrong move. Senate Intelligence Vice Chair Mark Warner questioned the logic: the strait was open before the war started.

US-Iran Peace Talks in Islamabad

On April 11, 2026, the United States and Iran held their first direct face-to-face negotiations in 47 years in Islamabad, Pakistan — the highest-level meeting since 1979. After 21 hours of marathon talks, Vice President Vance announced no deal was reached, citing Iran's refusal to commit to not developing nuclear weapons. Key sticking points included control of the Strait of Hormuz, Iran's frozen assets, the enrichment question, and whether Lebanon is covered by the ceasefire. Trump responded to the collapse by ordering a U.S. Navy blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. The Iranian delegation arrived dressed in black, mourning late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Iran-US Ceasefire Unraveling Within Hours

The two-week ceasefire announced April 7, 2026 began breaking down almost immediately. Iran's parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf accused the U.S. of violating three of Iran's 10 conditions: Israel continued striking Hezbollah in Lebanon (which Iran considers covered by the truce), Trump publicly denied Iran's claim that the framework permits uranium enrichment, and "an intruding drone" was destroyed in Fars Province. Iran responded by closing the Strait of Hormuz again. The U.S. denied that Lebanon was included in the ceasefire and demanded the Strait be reopened immediately. Saudi Arabia, UAE, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Qatar all reported missile and drone attacks within hours of the agreement.

US-Iran Two-Week Ceasefire (Pakistan-Brokered)

On April 7, 2026 — less than two hours before President Trump's deadline to "annihilate" Iran — the U.S. and Iran agreed to a two-week ceasefire brokered by Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. The deal is built on a 10-point Iranian peace proposal, with talks to begin in Islamabad on April 10. The ceasefire was almost immediately complicated: the Farsi version of Iran's plan includes "acceptance of enrichment" while the English version omits it; Pakistan said Lebanon is included while Netanyahu insists it is not, with Israel launching its largest wave of strikes on Hezbollah hours into the truce; and explosions hit Iranian oil sites at Lavan and Sirri Islands the same day.

Trump Threatens 'Whole Civilization Will Die' in Iran Ultimatum

On April 7, 2026, hours before his 8 p.m. ET deadline for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, President Trump posted on Truth Social that "a whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again." The threat — his most extreme public rhetoric of the Iran war — drew condemnation from Democrats calling for the 25th Amendment, criticism from some Republicans, and accusations of a threat to commit genocide from Amnesty International. Iran called the statement "a sign of ignorance."

Trump's Easter Threat to Bomb Iran's Civilian Infrastructure

On Easter Sunday morning, April 5, 2026, President Trump posted an expletive-laden ultimatum on Truth Social threatening to bomb Iran's power plants and bridges if the Strait of Hormuz was not reopened by Tuesday, writing "Open the F***in' Strait, you crazy bastards, or you'll be living in Hell" and signing off "Praise be to Allah." The post drew condemnation from across the political spectrum, with former ally Marjorie Taylor Greene declaring Trump "has gone insane" and Senator Bernie Sanders calling it "the ravings of a dangerous and mentally unbalanced individual."