Published on: May 4, 2026 21:12
Last updated on: May 4, 2026 23:35
Reading time: 1min – video: 2min
The situation is once again tense in the Middle East and in the Strait of Hormuz. The U.S. military announced on Monday, May 4, that they destroyed seven small Iranian boats. Tehran retaliated by firing missiles at ships. Is this the end of the ceasefire in the Middle East?
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The oil tanker off Fujairah, United Arab Emirates, was set on fire by an Iranian drone on the afternoon of May 4. Despite a ceasefire agreement with the United States less than a month ago, Iran resumed drone and missile attacks. This escalation follows President Donald Trump’s announcement on May 4 of a U.S. military intervention in the Strait of Hormuz, named “Operation Liberty.” “We will safely guide ships out of restricted waterways so they can freely resume their business,” said the U.S. president.
The U.S. command center claims to have sent destroyers into the Persian Gulf where hundreds of ships are currently blocked. The military is mobilizing 15,000 soldiers and a hundred aircraft to escort merchant ships out of the strait. According to an aviation tracking application, multiple U.S. military aircraft were observed flying over the strait on May 4. The United States claims to have facilitated the passage of two American merchant vessels.
Iran denies and continues to claim full control of the Strait of Hormuz. “Ships, their owners, and maritime companies know that to ensure their safety, they must coordinate with the various bodies of the Islamic Republic of Iran,” stated Esmail Baghaei, spokesperson for the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Both countries continue to trade fiery statements and provocations on social media. In a montage, the U.S. president claims to hold all the cards, while the Iranians assert to have a better hand.
Beyond the rhetoric, a naval battle is brewing once again. Washington claims to have destroyed seven small Iranian boats. Tehran denies it, but the maritime community is concerned. “Our fear is that it could escalate into a war zone with more powerful weapons, with merchant ships being held hostage and becoming targets. It’s a very big concern about a conflict greater than what we have seen before,” emphasized Emmanuel Chalard, CGT delegate of the merchant navy.
Close to 900 ships and 20,000 sailors are still stranded in the Strait of Hormuz.
