Issued on: 04/05/2026 - 02:06Modified: 05/05/2026 - 02:48
A new round of missiles launched from Iran targeted various areas across the United Arab Emirates on Monday following multiple threat alerts from authorities warning people to take cover. Three of the missiles “were successfully engaged over the country’s territorial waters, while one fell at sea”, the country’s defence ministry said on social media. Follow our liveblog to see how the day's events unfolded.
This liveblog is no longer being updated.
Starmer condemns Iranian strikes on UAE
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Monday condemned the Iranian drone and missile strikes targeting the United Arab Emirates.
Starmer called on Iran to engage in diplomacy to prevent further escalation in the Middle East, the prime minister's office said.
"We stand in solidarity with the UAE and will continue to support the defence of our partners in the Gulf. This escalation must cease. Iran needs to engage meaningfully in negotiations to ensure the ceasefire in the Middle East endures, and a long-term diplomatic solution is achieved," Starmer said.
US crude eases after surge as market weighs Hormuz attacks
US crude futures eased 1% in early Asian trade on Tuesday as the market gauged the impact of Iranian attacks on ships in the Strait of Hormuz and a fire at a UAE oil port.
US West Texas Intermediate was at $105.36 a barrel, down $1.06, or 1%, by 2203 GMT, following a more than 4% gain in the previous session.
Araqchi says no military solution to Hormuz crisis
Iran'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."
Centcom confirms passage of US-flagged ship through Strait of Hormuz
The Alliance Fairfax, a US-flagged vehicle carrier operated by its Farrell Lines subsidiary, exited the Gulf via the Strait of Hormuz accompanied by US military assets on Monday.
"As a first step, 2 US-flagged merchant vessels have successfully transited through the Strait of Hormuz," US Central Command (Centcom) said on X, adding that US Navy guided-missile destroyers are operating in the Gulf under a directive called "Project Freedom."
Fire on HMM vessel in Strait of Hormuz extinguished
South 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.
Global oil shortages loom as Strait of Hormuz closure bites, Chevron chief warns
Chevron Chairman and CEO Mike Wirth said on Monday that physical shortages in oil supply would begin appearing around the world because of the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, through which 20% of global crude supply passes.
Economies will begin shrinking, first in Asia, as demand adjusts to meet supply while the strait remains closed because of the US–Israeli war with Iran, Wirth said during a discussion sponsored by the Milken Institute.
Italy, Azerbaijan to strengthen energy, defence ties, Meloni says
Italy and Azerbaijan, which has become a key energy supplier to Europe, will boost energy and defence ties, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said Monday during a visit to Baku.
European countries are seeking alternatives to Russian oil and gas following the Ukraine war and the Iran conflict exposes the fragility of global energy routes. Azerbaijani oil and gas supplies have been "crucial" for Italy's energy security since Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Meloni said alongside Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, adding the two sides would seek to boost volumes.
The two countries have agreed to turn their partnership into "a sort of permanent political coordination," she added.
US-flagged ship safely exits Hormuz, Maersk says
Maersk said the Alliance Fairfax, a U.S.-flagged vehicle carrier operated by its Farrell Lines subsidiary, exited the Gulf via the Strait of Hormuz accompanied by the U.S. military on Monday.
Maersk said the transit was completed without incident and that all crew are safe and unharmed. Alliance Fairfax was among hundreds of ships stranded in the Gulf after the U.S. and Israeli war on Iran resulted in the virtual closure of the Strait of Hormuz in early March.
Trump predicts fuel prices will drop rapidly when Iran conflict over
President Donald Trump said that he believes high gasoline prices will drop rapidly once the Iran conflict is resolved.
Germany’s Merz condemns attacks on UAE
Iran says had 'no pre-planned programme' to attack UAE, state TV reports
Iran had "no pre-planned programme" to attack oil facilities in the United Arab Emirates, Iranian state TV said Monday, after the UAE blamed the Islamic republic for a drone strike at an energy installation in Fujairah.
Authorities in the emirate said the strike injured three Indian nationals who were taken to hospital. The UAE meanwhile said it had been targeted by a fresh Iranian barrage which it described as a "dangerous escalation", amid a ceasefire in the Middle East war.
"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.
12 ballistic missiles, three cruise missiles and four drones fired by Iran, UAE defence ministry says
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres concerned about imprisoned Iranian Narges Mohammadi
Ursula von der Leyen condemns Iranian attacks on the UAE
UAE announces all schools returning to remote learning
US, Gulf Arab nations draft new UN resolution on Strait of Hormuz designed to condem Iran blockage
The 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.
Lebanese president says security deal with Israel must come before Netanyahu meeting
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun on Monday said a security deal and an end to Israeli attacks were needed before any meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, sought by Washington.
Aoun's office said in a statement that the president "reiterated his view that the timing is not appropriate now for a meeting" with Netanyahu.
The statement quoted Aoun as saying: "We must first reach a security agreement and stop the Israeli attacks on us before we raise the issue of a meeting between us."
Israeli and Lebanese representatives last month met twice in Washington -- the first such meetings in decades, which came after Iran-backed Hezbollah drew Lebanon into the Middle East war on March 2, sparking heavy Israeli strikes and a ground invasion.
Trump says South Korea should join mission to protect ships near Iran
President Donald Trump said that South Korea should join U.S. 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.
Trump says 'no damage' from Iran's Hormuz strikes, except for S. Korean ship
Yesterday's key developments:
(FRANCE 24 with AFP, AP and Reuters)
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