E-Paper
US Iran war highlights: Trump says ‘Project Freedom’ paused to see if Iran peace deal can be finalised
US-Iran war highlights: Earlier, Trump announced ‘Project Freedom’ as an initiative to guide the ships stuck in Strait of Hormuz.
- 5:40 AM IST, May 6US proposes resolution to UNSC to defend free navigation
- 4:28 AM IST, May 5Trump pauses ‘Project Freedom’ to finalise peace deal with Iran
- 4:24 AM IST, May 5US declares Iran offensive over, warns force remains an option
- 3:39 AM IST, May 5Rubio calls Hormuz resolution test for UN, urges against vetoes
- 3:10 AM IST, May 5Rubio discusses Ukraine, Iran in call with Russia's Lavrov
- 2:31 AM IST, May 5Proposed UN resolution threatens Iran with sanctions if it doesn't allow freedom of navigation
- 2:10 AM IST, May 5Trump says Xi ‘respectful’ on Iran, downplays strains
- 1:40 AM IST, May 5Rubio says he hopes China tells Iran its actions in the Strait are causing its global isolation
- 1:32 AM IST, May 5Rubio says offensive stage of Iran war is 'over'
- 1:21 AM IST, May 5Ten civilian sailors have died in Strait of Hormuz, Rubio says
- 1:09 AM IST, May 5Rubio says Israel-Lebanon peace deal is achievable but Hezbollah is a problem
- 1:01 AM IST, May 5Rubio says US envoys working on diplomatic path to Iran war
- 12:52 AM IST, May 5US forces ready to resume combat operations against Iran if ordered
- 12:28 AM IST, May 5Israel says ready to deploy 'entire air force' against Iran if needed
- 12:06 AM IST, May 5Israel military chief says ready to 'respond with force' if attacked by Iran
- 11:57 PM IST, May 5Iran says it has not carried out attacks against the UAE in recent days
- 11:33 PM IST, May 5‘Iran seeing military buildup despite dialogue,’ says president Pezeshkian
- 11:20 PM IST, May 5Iran president says US pursuing ‘maximum pressure’ to force Iran to talks
- 11:14 PM IST, May 5Iran sets up new mechanism to manage vessel transit through Hormuz
- 10:57 PM IST, May 5Iran's Guards vow ‘firm response’ if ships diverge from declared Hormuz corridor
- 9:52 PM IST, May 5Trump says Iran ‘should do the smart thing’
- 9:22 PM IST, May 5Fire breaks out in Meighan Wetland near Iran's central city of Arak
- 8:19 PM IST, May 5Israeli forces continue attacks in southern Lebanon
- 8:00 PM IST, May 5UAE says air defences dealing with Iranian missile and drone attacks
- 7:22 PM IST, May 5Fire breaks out at shopping centre west of Iran's capital city
- 7:19 PM IST, May 5UN Security Council to begin talks on US and Bahrain-backed resolution for sanctions against Iran
- 7:09 PM IST, May 5Iranian Nobel winner ‘between life and death’ after hospitalisation, says report
- 6:31 PM IST, May 5Iran attacks so far below threshold for restarting combat, says top US general
- 6:11 PM IST, May 5Ceasefire still in effect, says Pentagon chief
- 6:01 PM IST, May 5World needs to step up, says Hegseth
- 5:59 PM IST, May 5Iran will face overwhelming firepower if it attacks commercial shipping, says Hegseth
- 5:56 PM IST, May 5US Pentagon chief Hegseth says hundreds more ships lining to transit Hormuz
- 5:46 PM IST, May 5France's Macron says he will speak with Iran President ‘shortly’
- 5:43 PM IST, May 5‘Operation Project Freedom’ separate from ‘Epic Fury’, is temporary, says Hegseth
- 5:41 PM IST, May 5US looking to protect ships from Iranian aggression, says Pentagon chief
- 5:15 PM IST, May 5Abu Dhabi considering setting up new fund for defence deals
- 4:35 PM IST, May 5Two Israeli attacks reported in southern Lebanon's Tebnine
- 4:32 PM IST, May 5Israeli air strike targets southern Lebanon again
- 4:29 PM IST, May 5What is the ceasefire situation after clashes in Hormuz?
- 4:25 PM IST, May 5Why is Iran FM's visit to China significant in present situation?
- 4:10 PM IST, May 5US rejects Iranian report of American vessel being struck with missiles
- 3:37 PM IST, May 5‘Have not even started yet,’ warns Iran on Hormuz attacks
- 3:33 PM IST, May 5Meanwhile, court in Israel extends detention of two Gaza flotilla activists
- 3:17 PM IST, May 5Iran FM Araghchi to leave for China on Tuesday
- 3:15 PM IST, May 5Several Delhi to West Asia flights cancelled
- 2:30 PM IST, May 5Ships cluster further from Hormuz Strait as Iran widens control
- 2:07 PM IST, May 5Iran says fire at UAE’s Fujairah port caused by ‘US adventurism’
- 1:24 PM IST, May 5South Korea considering participation in Trump's ‘Project Freedom'
- 1:10 PM IST, May 5Trump calls Iran strike ‘worth it,’ says action taken to eliminate nuclear threat
- 1:00 PM IST, May 5Pakistan condemns Iranian attack on UAE, says ‘stand firmly with our Emirati brothers and sisters’
- 12:34 PM IST, May 5UAE’s Anwar Gargash thanks global allies for solidarity
- 12:17 PM IST, May 5‘Continuation of status quo intolerable for America’, says Iran's parliament speaker
- 12:01 PM IST, May 5PM Modi after Fujairah attack injures three Indian nationals
- 9:44 AM IST, May 5Indian shares open lower as elevated oil weighs
This live blog has ended. For more updates, click here US-Iran war highlights: US President Donald Trump on Tuesday said that ‘Project Freedom’ will be paused for a short period of time to see whether or not the Agreement can be finalized and signed....Read More
In a post on Truth Social, Trump wrote, “Project Freedom (The Movement of Ships through the Strait of Hormuz) will be paused for a short period of time to see whether or not the Agreement can be finalized and signed”
Iran's military on Tuesday denied launching any attacks on the United Arab Emirates in recent days, after the Gulf country accused Tehran of launching drone and missile barrages.
"The armed forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran did not launch any missile or drone operation against the United Arab Emirates these past days," the Khatam al-Anbiya central command said in a statement.
"Therefore, the report of that country's Ministry of Defence is categorically denied and completely unfounded," it said, however, warning that any attacks launched from Emirati territory would be met with a "firm response".
Iran and the US tested an already fragile ceasefire as both nations fired munitions at each other in the crucial waterway of the Strait of Hormuz in the last 24 hours. While US President Donald Trump refused to comment on whether the truce holds or not, in an interview to Fox News, he warned that Iran will be “blown off the face of the Earth” if it targets US ships.
What triggered the attacks?
It all started when Trump on Monday said that the US would begin guiding ships through the Strait of Hormuz, in an effort he dubbed “Project Freedom.”
“For the good of Iran, the Middle East, and the United States, we have told these Countries that we will guide their Ships safely out of these restricted Waterways, so that they can freely and ably get on with their business,” he wrote in a post on Truth Social.
Following this, Iran warned that “any foreign military force, especially the invading American army … will be attacked” if they try to approach or enter the Strait of Hormuz.
Here’s where things stand
Echoing Trump’s statements, US Central Command chief Adm. Bradley Cooper also declined to weigh in on whether the nearly monthlong ceasefire will continue.
“I wouldn’t go into details of whether the ceasefire is over or not,” Adm. Bradley Cooper, head of US Central Command, told reporters Monday, as reported by CNN. “I think the key thing is, for us, is we’re merely there as a defensive force and to give a very thick layer of defense to commercial shipping to allow them to proceed out of the (Persian Gulf),”
Iran reportedly launched several cruise missiles, drones, and small boats targeting US Navy vessels as well as commercial ships under U.S. protection, according to Cooper, as cited by CNN. In response, the US military said it destroyed six small Iranian boats in the Strait of Hormuz on Monday. However, Iranian state media rejected this claim, disputing that any boats were sunk. Later, Trump stated that the US had actually shot down seven small Iranian boats.
The US military said Monday that two American-flagged merchant ships had successfully transited the Strait of Hormuz and that Navy guided-missile destroyers in the Persian Gulf were helping to restore shipping traffic. Iran denied these reports, saying no US-flagged merchants crossed the Hormuz.
The US also refuted Iran’s claims that its navy had fired warning shots near US Navy destroyers operating near the Strait of Hormuz. “No U.S. Navy ships have been struck,” CENTCOM said in a post on X.
Is the Middle East under fire again?
The Middle East, which bore the brunt of the US-Iran war, has once again come under fire as hostilities between the two nations increase. UAE on Monday said it had come under attack from Iran for the first time since a fragile ceasefire took hold in early April. The Gulf nation condemned Iranian strikes, saying its air defenses “engaged” 19 Iranian missiles and drones.
Three Indians were also injured following a drone strike that sparked a “major fire” at the Fujairah Oil Industry Zone. UAE also accused Iran of targeting an empty crude oil tanker owned by ADNOC with drones as it transited the Strait of Hormuz, according to Reuters. ADNOC’s maritime logistics unit said the vessel, Barakah, was empty at the time of the attack and no injuries were reported.
Iran later clarified that it had no premeditated plan to target oil facilities in Fujairah in the UAE, state television reported, citing a military official.
Oman also reported that a residential building housing employees was targeted on Monday, though they did not provide details of the incident.
Iran sends a 14-point peace proposal to US
Iran has put forward a 14-point peace proposal to the United States through Pakistan. While the US suggested a two-month ceasefire; Iran wants a complete settlement within 30 days.
Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi, in response to the ongoing US Project Freedom and the recent strikes on the UAE on Tuesday, said that the events in the Strait of Hormuz region highlight the limits of military approaches to political disputes.
In a post on X, he said, "Events in Hormuz make clear that there's no military solution to a political crisis."
US Iran war LIVE: US proposes resolution to UNSC to defend free navigation
US Iran war LIVE: The United States on Tuesday (local time) proposed a draft resolution in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) aimed at defending freedom of navigation and securing the Strait of Hormuz amid the ongoing crisis over transit through the strategic waterway due to the ongoing power struggle between Washington and Tehran.
According to a statement from the US Department of State, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that Iran is "holding the world's economy hostage" through threats and actions in the strategic waterway, including alleged attempts to close the Strait of Hormuz, attacks on ships, laying of sea mines, and efforts to impose tolls on maritime traffic.
US Iran war LIVE: Trump pauses ‘Project Freedom’ to finalise peace deal with Iran
US Iran war LIVE: US President Donald Trump said that, following requests from Pakistan and other countries and citing what he described as a successful military campaign against Iran, Washington has agreed to pause “Project Freedom” — the movement of ships through the Strait of Hormuz — for a short period.
He said the decision comes as significant progress has been made toward a “complete and final” agreement with Iranian representatives. However, Trump added that the blockade will remain fully in place while both sides assess whether the agreement can be finalised and signed.
US Iran war LIVE: US declares Iran offensive over, warns force remains an option
US Iran war LIVE: The United States has completed its offensive operations against Iran, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Tuesday, even as Washington warned it was ready to unleash a "devastating" response to any new attacks on shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.
Rubio's remarks came after Washington's top military officer said American forces remain ready to resume combat operations if ordered, as clashes in the vital waterway threatened to unravel a fragile ceasefire.
US Iran war LIVE: Rubio calls Hormuz resolution test for UN, urges against vetoes
US Iran war LIVE: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Tuesday called a US-proposed UN resolution demanding Iran stop attacks and laying mines in the Strait of Hormuz a test of the utility of the United Nations and urged China and Russia not to repeat vetoes.
UN Security Council members began closed talks on Tuesday on a text the US drafted with Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, and Qatar, which, if it were to pass, could lead to sanctions against Iran, and potentially authorize force, if Tehran fails to halt attacks and threats to commercial shipping.
US Iran war LIVE: Rubio discusses Ukraine, Iran in call with Russia's Lavrov
US Iran war LIVE: U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke on Tuesday with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov at Lavrov's request, the State Department said in a statement, adding the pair discussed the U.S.-Russia relationship, the Russia-Ukraine war, and Iran.
US Iran war LIVE: Proposed UN resolution threatens Iran with sanctions if it doesn't allow freedom of navigation
US Iran war LIVE: A proposed UN resolution threatens Iran with sanctions or other measures if it doesn't halt attacks on ships in the Strait of Hormuz, stop imposing "illegal tolls," and disclose the placement of all mines to allow freedom of navigation.
The draft Security Council resolution, co-sponsored by the United States and Gulf nations and obtained Tuesday by The Associated Press, also demands that Iran "immediately participate in and enable" United Nations efforts to establish a humanitarian corridor in the strait to enable the delivery of vital aid, fertiliser and other goods.
US Iran war LIVE: Trump says Xi ‘respectful’ on Iran, downplays strains
US Iran war LIVE: US President Donald Trump said he would discuss the Iran war with Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping during their summit next week and sought to downplay tensions over the conflict.
“That’ll be one subject, but he’s been very nice about this,” Trump told reporters at the White House on Tuesday in response to a question about what he hoped to achieve with Xi on Iran when they meet.
US Iran war LIVE: Rubio says he hopes China tells Iran its actions in the Strait are causing its global isolation
US Iran war LIVE: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters at the White House on Tuesday that he hopes China tells Iran what it is doing in the Strait of Hormuz is causing Tehran to be globally isolated.
US Iran war LIVE: Rubio says offensive stage of Iran war is 'over'
US Iran war LIVE: The United States has completed its offensive operations against Iran, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Tuesday, echoing statements to Congress nearly a month into a fragile ceasefire.
"The operation is over -- Epic Fury -- as the president notified Congress. We're done with that stage of it," Rubio told reporters at the White House.
US Iran war LIVE: Ten civilian sailors have died in Strait of Hormuz, Rubio says
US Iran war LIVE: Ten civilian sailors have died due to the ongoing conflict in the Strait of Hormuz, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters on Tuesday.
"They're isolated, they're starving, they're vulnerable and at least 10 sailors have died as a result, civilian sailors," Rubio said, without providing additional details.
US Iran war LIVE: Rubio says Israel-Lebanon peace deal is achievable but Hezbollah is a problem
US Iran war LIVE: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Tuesday that peace between Israel and Lebanon was achievable but that Lebanese militant group Hezbollah was a problem.
US Iran war LIVE: Rubio says US envoys working on diplomatic path to Iran war
US Iran war LIVE: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said American envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are actively working to advance a diplomatic solution with Iran, even as tensions persist.
He stressed that Tehran must come to the negotiating table and accept US terms, while reaffirming that Washington will continue efforts to secure and clear the Strait of Hormuz to restore freedom of navigation.
US Iran war LIVE: US forces ready to resume combat operations against Iran if ordered
US Iran war LIVE: US forces are ready to resume combat operations against Iran if ordered, Washington's top military officer said on Tuesday, as the Pentagon threatened a "devastating" response to Iranian attacks on commercial shipping in the Hormuz strait.
The warnings came after Iran's powerful chief negotiator said Tehran "had not even started yet", after a spate of attacks in the crucial trade route by both sides on Monday threatened to reignite the Middle East war.
US Iran war LIVE: Israel says ready to deploy 'entire air force' against Iran if needed
US Iran war LIVE: Israel's new air force chief Major General Omer Tischler said on Tuesday that the country was prepared to deploy its entire fleet of fighter jets against Iran if necessary.
He spoke weeks into a fragile ceasefire in the Middle East war, which erupted when Israel and the United States launched strikes against Iran in February.
US Iran war LIVE: Israel military chief says ready to 'respond with force' if attacked by Iran
US Iran war LIVE: Israel's military chief Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir said on Tuesday that the country was prepared to respond "with force" to any attack by Iran.
"The IDF remains on high alert across all fronts. We are closely monitoring developments in the Persian Gulf and are prepared to respond with force to any attempt to harm Israel," Zamir said at a ceremony marking the appointment of the new air force chief.
US Iran war LIVE: Iran says it has not carried out attacks against the UAE in recent days
US Iran war LIVE: Iran's Khatam al-Anbiya joint military command said on Tuesday it has not carried out attacks against the United Arab Emirates in recent days, yet warned of a "crushing response" if any action is carried out by the Gulf country against Iran.
The UAE was subject to a second day of what it said were missile and drone attacks from Iran after four weeks of relative calm since the United States announced a ceasefire.
US Iran war LIVE: ‘Iran seeing military buildup despite dialogue,’ says president Pezeshkian
US Iran war LIVE: Iranian president on Tuesday said that the country is seeing a military buildup and threats by US despite the path of dailogue being underway.
Iran also claimed that US is putting ‘maximum pressure’ on Iran to surrender its unilateral demands.
US Iran war LIVE: Iran president says US pursuing ‘maximum pressure’ to force Iran to talks
US Iran war LIVE: Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has said that the United States is pursuing a policy of “maximum pressure” to force Tehran into negotiations and compel it to accept unilateral demands, a position he described as unacceptable.
US Iran war LIVE: Iran sets up new mechanism to manage vessel transit through Hormuz
US Iran war LIVE: Iran has set up a new mechanism to manage the transit of vessels through the Strait of Hormuz, Iran's Press TV reported on Tuesday.
Iran has warned the U.S. Navy to stay out of the Strait of Hormuz and that commercial vessels will need to coordinate any passage with its military. It also issued a new map of the strait with an expanded Iranian area of control.
US Iran war LIVE: Iran's Guards vow ‘firm response’ if ships diverge from declared Hormuz corridor
US Iran war LIVE: Iran's Revolutionary Guards warned on Tuesday that they would respond firmly to any ships that diverge from the Islamic republic's approved route through the Strait of Hormuz, AFP reported.
“We warn all vessels planning to transit the Strait of Hormuz that the only safe passage is the corridor previously announced by Iran. Any diversion of ships to other routes is dangerous and will result in a firm response from the Iranian Revolutionary Guards navy,” according to a statement carried by the state television.
US Iran war LIVE: Trump says Iran ‘should do the smart thing’
US Iran war LIVE: US President Donald Trump on Tuesday urged Iran to do the “smart thing”, saying he does not want to kill more Iranians.
“They should do the smart thing, because we don't want to go in and kill people. Really don't,” AFP cited Trump as saying at the Oval Office. “I don't want to, it's too tough,” the US President said.
US Iran war LIVE: Fire breaks out in Meighan Wetland near Iran's central city of Arak
US Iran war LIVE: Fire broke out in Reeds area in Meighan Wetland near Iran's central city of Arak, Reuters news agency reported citing Nour News.
Winds are spreading the blaze, according to the report.
US Iran war LIVE: Israeli forces continue attacks in southern Lebanon
US Iran war LIVE: Israeli forces have continued attacks on southern Lebanon, launching strikes on al-Sayyad and al-Mansouri in the Tyre district, according to Lebanon's National News Agency (NNA).
This comes after Israel struck the town of Qounine in the Bint Jbeil district. In the district, the towns of Qounine and Beit Yahoun also faced shelling, Al Jazeera reported.
US Iran war LIVE: UAE says air defences dealing with Iranian missile and drone attacks
US Iran war LIVE: The United Arab Emirates on Tuesday said its air defences were dealing with Iranian missile and drone attacks.
“The UAE's air defenses are currently dealing with missile and drone attacks originating from Iran. The Ministry of Defense confirms that the sounds heard in scattered areas of the country are the result of the UAE's air defense systems intercepting ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and drones,” the country's defence ministry said.
This is the second conecutive day that the UAE has reported Iranian attacks, with strikes taking place on Monday after US-Iran clashes in the Strait of Hormuz.
