U.S. attempt to open Strait of Hormuz tests fragile Iran war ceasefire

Key developments are emerging from the global stage. attempt to open Strait of Hormuz tests fragile Iran war ceasefire May 5, 2026 6:39 AM ET By The Associated Press A bulk cargo ship sits at anchor in the Strait of Hormuz off Bandar Abbas, Iran, Saturday, May 2, 2026. Amirhosein Khorgooi/AP/ISNA hide caption toggle caption Amirhosein Khorgooi/AP/ISNA DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — The Iran war risked reigniting after the U. tried to force open the Strait of Hormuz for commercial shipping, though a ceasefire seemed to be holding Tuesday even after the United Arab Emirates said Iran fired missiles and drones at it.

State of the World from NPR Economic effects of the war in Iran ripple around the globe It is unclear what will follow after an American attempt to end Iran's stranglehold on the strait by creating an "enhanced security area. " A prominent Iranian official accused the U. of undermining regional security with the effort and warned that Iran will respond.

The Details

military said two American-flagged merchant ships successfully transited the strait on Monday, but it remained to be seen if any more ships would cross through on Tuesday. Ship tracking data showed a Panamanian-flagged crude oil tanker heading toward the center of the strait Tuesday morning after leaving an anchorage in the Persian Gulf, though it was unclear if it would try to pass through. The tanker had a stated destination of Singapore, according to the MarineTraffic ship tracking site.

Sponsor Message Iran's effective closure of the strait, through which about a fifth of the world's trade in oil and natural gas typically passes, along with fertilizer and other petroleum-derived products, has sent fuel prices skyrocketing, rattled the global economy, and proved a major strategic advantage in negotiations to end the war. Breaking that chokehold would ease global economic concerns and deny Tehran a major source of leverage. But such efforts also risk reigniting the full-scale fighting that erupted when the U.

and Israel first attacked Iran on Feb. 28, prompting it to close the strait. An Iranian demonstrator waves a flag of Lebanon's militant Hezbollah group under an anti-U.

What Experts Say

billboard depicting the American aircrafts into the Iranian armed forces fishing net with signs that read in Farsi: "The Strait of Hormuz will remain closed, The entire Persian Gulf is our hunting ground," during a pro-government gathering at Enqelab-e-Eslami, or Islamic Revolution, square in Tehran, Iran, Monday, May 4, 2026. Vahid Salemi/AP hide caption toggle caption Vahid Salemi/AP Iran accuses US of ceasefire violation Iran has said the new U. effort is a violation of the fragile ceasefire that has held for more than three weeks.

In a post on X Tuesday, Iran's powerful parliamentary speaker and chief negotiator, Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, accused Washington of undermining shipping security in the Strait of Hormuz. Qalibaf warned that a "new equation" in the strait is taking shape. He signaled that Tehran has yet to fully respond to the U.

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