Iran strikes UAE, warns US off Hormuz as ceasefire frays
Last updated: 17:16 UTC, May 04 2026 | Started: 2026-05-04 06:46 | 2 update(s) | Avg confidence: 77/100
The story so far: The 2026 Iran war began on February 28 when the United States and Israel launched Operation Epic Fury, striking Iranian military, government, and nuclear sites and killing Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Iran retaliated with hundreds of missiles and thousands of drones targeting Israel, U.S. bases, and Gulf Arab states, and closed the Strait of Hormuz — through which roughly 20% of global oil flows. A fragile ceasefire took hold on April 8, but the standoff over Hormuz access has continued to simmer, with both sides trading threats and now, on May 4, Iran resuming direct strikes on a Gulf Arab neighbor.
Latest Updates
2026-05-04 17:16 — Iran strikes UAE, warns US off Hormuz as ceasefire frays
Iran launched missiles and drones at the United Arab Emirates on May 4, 2026 — the first such attacks since the April 8 ceasefire — after the U.S. military escorted two American-flagged merchant ships through the Strait of Hormuz, according to NPR citing UAE government and U.S. military statements.
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2026-05-04 06:46 — Rubio flies to Rome to repair US rift with Vatican and Italy over Iran war
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is scheduled to visit Rome and the Vatican on May 7–8, 2026, where he will meet Pope Leo XIV and Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin on May 7, and Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani and Defence Minister Guido Crosetto on May 8, according to Italy's Corriere della Sera confirmed by Vatican sources.
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What We Know
- U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is scheduled to visit Rome and the Vatican on May 7–8, 2026, where he will meet Pope Leo XIV and Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin on May 7, and Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani and Defence Minister Guido Crosetto on May 8, according to Italy's Corriere della Sera confirmed by Vatican sources.
- The trip is aimed at repairing relations ruptured since the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran began on February 28, 2026, after which Trump publicly called Pope Leo XIV 'weak' and 'terrible for foreign policy,' then extended his criticism to Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni after she defended the pontiff, according to The Media Line and IBTimes.
- Pope Leo XIV condemned the initial U.S. strikes on Iran as 'illegal and immoral' and on April 7 called Trump's threats against the Iranian people 'truly unacceptable,' according to Vatican News; the Vatican press office separately confirmed in February that the pope would not visit the United States in 2026.
- A January 2026 meeting between Pentagon Undersecretary Elbridge Colby and Vatican envoy Cardinal Christophe Pierre was reported by The Free Press to have involved a warning that Washington 'has the military power to do whatever it wants — and that the Church had better take its side,' including an alleged invocation of the Avignon Papacy; the Pentagon called the reporting 'highly exaggerated and distorted,' and the U.S. ambassador said Pierre 'emphatically denied' the portrayal, according to Euronews.
- Italy recalibrated its position toward Israel following incidents in Lebanon involving its UNIFIL troops, and imposed an arms embargo on Israel over the Gaza war; Italian public opinion polls show 70% of Italians are highly critical of Israel, according to The Media Line, creating domestic pressure on Prime Minister Meloni.
- Iran launched missiles and drones at the United Arab Emirates on May 4, 2026 — the first such attacks since the April 8 ceasefire — after the U.S. military escorted two American-flagged merchant ships through the Strait of Hormuz, according to NPR citing UAE government and U.S. military statements.
- Iranian Maj. Gen. Ali Abdollahi warned via state broadcaster IRIB that 'any foreign military force — especially the aggressive U.S. military — that intends to approach or enter the Strait of Hormuz will be targeted,' according to NPR.
- U.S. Central Command denied that Iran's Revolutionary Guard hit a U.S. warship with two missiles near an Iranian port, and confirmed that two U.S.-flagged ships successfully transited the strait, according to live-update reporting from ms.now citing CENTCOM.
- The South Korean government said an explosion and fire broke out aboard a South Korean-operated ship anchored in the strait off the UAE; no injuries were reported, according to NPR.
- Iran's Defense Ministry spokesman, Brigadier General Reza Talaei-Nik, stated in late April that a 'significant portion' of Iran's missile capabilities remains unused, warning adversaries that domestic weapons production remains fully operational despite the conflict, according to Press TV via GlobalSecurity.
Still Unclear
- The Free Press, citing unnamed Vatican officials: Cardinal Christophe Pierre was given a 'bitter lecture' by Elbridge Colby, who told the Vatican the Church 'had better take its side,' with a U.S. official also invoking the Avignon Papacy as a historical precedent.
Pentagon statement on X; U.S. Ambassador Brian Burch via Euronews: The Pentagon called the reporting 'highly exaggerated and distorted,' saying the meeting was 'a respectful and reasonable discussion'; Cardinal Pierre said it 'does not reflect what happened' and was 'frank, but very cordial.'
- (Unverified — anonymous source; Vatican press office confirmed only that the pope 'will not go to the United States in 2026' without citing disagreements) The Holy See considered and then indefinitely postponed a papal visit to the United States in 2026 due to foreign policy disagreements and rising opposition from U.S. bishops to Trump administration policies. [The Free Press, citing unnamed Vatican officials]
- (Unverified — single specialist outlet identification; U.S. government has not formally confirmed responsibility) A missile strike on an elementary school in Minab, Iran, killed more than 165 people, many of them children, in the opening days of the war, with Bellingcat identifying the munition as a Tomahawk cruise missile. [Newsweek / Bellingcat, citing AP and U.S. officials]
- IRGC / Iranian state media (single-source, unverified origin): Iran's Revolutionary Guard fired two missiles at a U.S. warship near an Iranian port, striking it.
U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), May 4, 2026: No U.S. warship was attacked; the claim is false.
- Trump administration legal position, per Al Jazeera: The April 8 ceasefire paused the 60-day War Powers clock, placing the legal deadline at May 2, giving the administration continued authority to operate.
Constitutional law scholars cited by GlobalSecurity/SOF News analysis: The War Powers Resolution contains no textual basis for pausing the clock during a ceasefire; constitutional law scholars describe the argument as unsupported by the statute.
- (Unverified — state media only | denied by named primary source (CENTCOM) | not independently corroborated) Iran's IRGC fired two missiles at and struck a U.S. warship near an Iranian port on May 4. [IRGC / Iranian state media]
- (Unverified — single source | not independently corroborated at time of reporting) The ship that caught fire and exploded in the Strait of Hormuz off the UAE was one of the vessels reported by the UK Maritime Trade Operations centre as burning. [NPR, May 4, 2026]
Key Figures
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|
| Iranian provinces struck by Israeli and U.S. forces as of March 1, 2026 | 24 of 31 provinces | America Magazine / OSV News |
| Deaths reported in Tehran in 24 hours on March 1, 2026 | 57 killed in 60 attacks | Iran's state-run IRNA via BBC, cited by America Magazine |
| Italians highly critical of Israel (public opinion, May 2025 poll) | ~70% | The Media Line |
| Countries with full diplomatic relations with the Holy See | 184 | America Magazine |
| Confirmed dead in Iran from U.S.-Israeli strikes since February 28 | At least 3,300 | Al Jazeera, April 28, 2026 |
| U.S. service members killed in the conflict | 13 | Al Jazeera citing CENTCOM, April 28, 2026 |
| Targets struck by U.S. and Israel inside Iran before ceasefire pause | At least 13,000 | Al Jazeera citing Trump administration figures, April 28, 2026 |
| UAE missiles intercepted from Iran on May 4 | 3 (plus additional drones) | UAE government statement via ms.now liveblog, May 4, 2026 |
| War day count (since February 28 start) | Day 65 | Derived from confirmed conflict start date per Reuters/AP/Wikipedia/Britannica |
| Iranian air defenses degraded per U.S. assessment | 80% | Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, April 8, 2026, via GlobalSecurity |
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Rubio visiting the Vatican and Italy in May 2026?
Rubio is travelling to Rome on May 7–8 to repair relations broken by Trump's public attacks on Pope Leo XIV over the pope's condemnation of the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran. Italian PM Meloni's defence of the pope and Italy's broader resistance to backing the war have compounded the rift, according to Corriere della Sera and The Washington Post.
What has Pope Leo XIV said about the Iran war?
Pope Leo XIV condemned the initial U.S. strikes on Iran as 'illegal and immoral,' called Trump's threats against the Iranian people 'truly unacceptable,' and in his Easter Urbi et Orbi urged those with the power to 'unleash wars' to choose peace instead, according to Euronews and Vatican News.
How has Italy's position on the Iran war affected its relationship with the United States?
Italy refused to endorse the U.S.-Israeli strikes, imposed an arms embargo on Israel linked to the Gaza war, and PM Meloni publicly called Trump's attacks on the pope 'unacceptable.' Italian UNIFIL troops in Lebanon have also been involved in incidents with Israeli forces, further complicating Rome's alignment with Washington, per The Media Line.
Why did Iran attack the UAE on May 4, 2026?
Iran launched missiles and drones at the UAE after the U.S. military escorted two American-flagged merchant ships through the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran has controlled since the war began on February 28. Iran views the U.S. move as a direct challenge to its blockade and a violation of the April 8 ceasefire terms.
Is the Strait of Hormuz still closed and how is it affecting oil prices?
Iran has effectively controlled the strait since late February 2026. Its closure has caused fuel shortages in parts of Asia, driven global fuel prices sharply higher, and forced shipping reroutes. CSIS vessel-tracking data as of late April confirmed the strait remains a major flashpoint rattling global energy markets.
What is the current status of ceasefire talks and could the war resume?
A conditional ceasefire was declared on April 8, brokered with Pakistani mediation. However, talks have stalled: Iran wants the U.S. blockade of the strait lifted within 30 days, while Trump has threatened new strikes if Iran does not reopen it. The May 4 attacks on the UAE are the first breach of the ceasefire, raising the risk of full-scale resumption.
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