The fragile ceasefire in the Iran war faced renewed strain on Friday after the United Arab Emirates reported intercepting a missile and drone strikes, following US claims of thwarted attacks on three Navy ships in the Strait of Hormuz and subsequent retaliation against Iranian military installations. No immediate damage was reported in the UAE.
Ongoing Hostilities Amid Negotiations
Iran and the United States continue to exchange blows even as negotiators pursue a deal to end the conflict, though both sides have so far avoided a full-scale return to war. The status of key issues, such as Iran's nuclear program—which the US and Israel aimed to halt when the war began on February 28—and the Strait of Hormuz, remains unclear. Iran has effectively closed this vital waterway to pressure the global economy.
On Thursday, Tehran announced it was reviewing the latest US proposals for ending the war, delivered via Pakistan, which is acting as a mediator. President Donald Trump downplayed the exchange of fire, describing the retaliatory strikes against Iran as "just a love tap" in a phone call with ABC News. He insisted the ceasefire was holding and a deal could come "any day," but reiterated threats of intensified bombing if Tehran does not accept terms allowing the resumption of oil and natural gas shipments disrupted by the conflict. "They have to understand: If it doesn't get signed, they're going to have a lot of pain," he told reporters in Washington.
Iranian State Media Reports
Iranian state media reported that its forces exchanged fire with "the enemy" on Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz. Loud noises and continuous defensive fire were also heard in western Tehran late Thursday night. The ceasefire between the US and Iran has largely held since April 8, but in-person talks hosted by Pakistan last month failed to produce an agreement.
US Military: No Escalation Sought
The UAE's Defense Ministry advised residents not to approach, photograph, or touch any debris or fragments resulting from successful air interceptions. Earlier, the US military said it had intercepted Iranian attacks on three Navy ships in the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday night and targeted Iranian military facilities responsible for the attacks. Central Command stated in a social media post that US forces responded with self-defense strikes after unprovoked Iranian attacks, adding that no ships were hit. The military emphasized it does not seek escalation but remains positioned and ready to protect American forces.
Diplomatic Efforts Continue
Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar spoke by phone with his Iranian counterpart, Abbas Araghchi, on Thursday. "We expect an agreement sooner rather than later," said Foreign Ministry spokesperson Tahir Andrabi, who expressed hope for a peaceful and sustainable solution contributing to regional and international peace. He declined to provide a timeline. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif stated that Islamabad remains in continuous contact with both Iran and the United States, day and night, to stop the war and extend the ceasefire.
Meanwhile, direct talks between Israel and Lebanon are scheduled to resume next week in Washington, according to a US official speaking on condition of anonymity. The talks will be held on May 14 and 15.
Iran Establishes Strait Control Agency
A Chinese-staffed oil tanker was attacked near the strait, apparently for the first time since the war began. The Chinese Foreign Ministry expressed concern, noting the tanker was registered in the Marshall Islands with Chinese crew on board; no casualties were reported. Earlier, shipping data firm Lloyd's List Intelligence reported that Iran has created a government agency to vet and tax vessels seeking passage through the Strait of Hormuz. This formalized control raises new concerns for international shipping, with hundreds of commercial vessels bottled up in the Persian Gulf. The agency, called the Persian Gulf Strait Authority, positions itself as the only valid authority to grant permission for transit, according to Lloyd's.
On Friday, an oil tanker that passed through the strait in mid-April arrived off South Korea's coast to unload 1 million barrels of crude at the HD Hyundai Oilbank refinery. South Korea, which imported over 60% of its crude through the strait last year, has capped prices of gasoline and other petroleum products as the war fuels fears of an energy crisis.
Maritime law experts state that Iran's demands to vet or tax vessels violate international law, as the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea requires peaceful passage through territorial waters. The US has threatened sanctions on companies that pay tolls to Iran. The US and its Gulf allies are pushing for a UN Security Council resolution condemning Iran's chokehold on the strait and threatening sanctions; a prior resolution was vetoed by Russia and China.
