The UAE says Iran resumes attacks as the U.S. moves to reopen the Strait of Hormuz

Key developments are emerging from the global stage. The UAE says Iran resumes attacks as the U. moves to reopen the Strait of Hormuz Updated May 4, 2026 12:23 PM ET Originally published May 4, 2026 12:08 PM ET By The Associated Press A patrol boat moves through the water as cargo ships sit at anchor in the Strait of Hormuz off Bandar Abbas, Iran, Saturday. Amirhosein Khorgooi/ISNA via AP hide caption toggle caption Amirhosein Khorgooi/ISNA via AP DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — The United Arab Emirates said Monday it came under attack by Iran for the first time since a fragile ceasefire took hold in early April.

The attacks appeared to be in response to U. President Donald Trump's latest efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a critical waterway for global energy. State of the World from NPR Economic effects of the war in Iran ripple around the globe The UAE Defense Ministry said Iran had launched four cruise missiles, with three shot down and one falling into the sea.

The Details

Authorities in the eastern emirate of Fujairah said an Iranian drone sparked a fire at a key oil facility. The British military reported two cargo vessels ablaze off the UAE. The attacks came after the U.

military said two American-flagged merchant ships had successfully transited the Strait of Hormuz after it launched a new initiative to restore traffic Monday. Sponsor Message Iran has effectively controlled the strait since the U. and Israel launched the war in late February.

Breaking Iran's chokehold would ease global economic concerns and deny Tehran a major source of leverage in talks aimed at ending the war. But such efforts also risk reigniting full-scale fighting. The South Korean government said an explosion and fire had broken out aboard a South Korean-operated ship anchored in the strait off the UAE.

What Experts Say

No injuries were reported. It was not immediately known if the vessel was one of the burning ships reported by the British military's United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations center. Iran's effective closure of the strait, which runs between Iran and Oman, has caused a spike in worldwide fuel prices and rattled the global economy.

-led Joint Maritime Information Center is now advising ships to cross the strait in Oman's waters, saying it set up an "enhanced security area. " Reports of new attacks raised doubts as to whether shipping companies, and their insurers, will feel comfortable taking the risk given that Iran has fired on ships in the waterway and vowed to keep doing so. Iran has said the new U.

effort is a violation of the fragile ceasefire that has held for more than three weeks. Sponsor Message Middle East conflict Trump says the U. will 'guide' stranded ships from the Strait of Hormuz Trump warns of "forceful" response if Iran interferes The U.

The development has drawn wide international attention, with diplomatic circles watching closely.