Iran fires on US warship in Hormuz as ceasefire frays
Last updated: 10:46 UTC, May 04 2026 | Started: 2026-05-04 10:46 | 1 update(s) | Avg confidence: 62/100
The story so far: The 2026 Iran war began on February 28, 2026, when the United States and Israel launched joint strikes on Iran — codenamed Operation Epic Fury and Operation Roaring Lion respectively — targeting its military, nuclear program, and leadership, killing Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in the opening salvo, according to Britannica and the UK House of Commons Library. Iran retaliated with hundreds of missiles and drones against Israel, US bases, and Gulf Arab states, and closed the Strait of Hormuz to most international shipping. A conditional ceasefire was declared on April 8, but the strait remained closed and Pakistan-mediated peace talks have stalled over the US counter-blockade of Iranian ports and Iranian demands that Lebanon be included in any deal.
Latest Updates
2026-05-04 10:46 — Iran fires on US warship in Hormuz as ceasefire frays
Iran's IRGC fired two missiles at a US Navy vessel near Jask in the Strait of Hormuz on May 4, 2026, after the vessel reportedly ignored IRGC warnings to halt, according to Iranian state media cited by Al Jazeera.
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What We Know
- Iran's IRGC fired two missiles at a US Navy vessel near Jask in the Strait of Hormuz on May 4, 2026, after the vessel reportedly ignored IRGC warnings to halt, according to Iranian state media cited by Al Jazeera.
- The attack came hours after President Trump announced 'Project Freedom,' a US naval mission to escort stranded commercial ships out of the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran has kept effectively closed to most international shipping since late February 2026.
- Trump had told congressional leaders on Friday that hostilities with Iran had 'terminated,' asserting there had been 'no exchange of fire between the United States Forces and Iran since April 7, 2026' — a claim the May 4 reported attack now directly contradicts, per CBS News.
- A conditional ceasefire between the US-Israeli coalition and Iran was declared on April 8; under its terms Iran had pledged to open the Strait of Hormuz, a commitment Trump said Tehran had 'knowingly failed' to honor, according to the UK House of Commons Library briefing.
- The IRGC separately warned it will attack any US forces that attempt to approach or enter the strait, according to Al Jazeera's live coverage of May 4.
Still Unclear
- Iranian state media, cited by Al Jazeera: Iran's IRGC fired two missiles at a US Navy vessel near Jask after it ignored warnings to halt.
CBS News live updates, May 4, 2026: Neither the Pentagon nor the White House have confirmed the reported attack on a US vessel in the Strait of Hormuz.
- CBS News, citing White House letter to Congress: Trump declared to congressional leaders that hostilities with Iran had 'terminated' and that there had been no exchange of fire since April 7.
Iranian state media via Al Jazeera: The IRGC announced it struck a US Navy ship on May 4, which would constitute renewed direct fire after the ceasefire.
- (Unverified — state media only — the Pentagon and White House have not confirmed the attack) Two missiles struck a US Navy vessel near Jask in the Strait of Hormuz after it ignored IRGC warnings to halt. [Iranian state media, cited by Al Jazeera]
- (Unverified — anonymous source — neither the Pentagon nor the White House confirmed) Trump was briefed for 45 minutes by top military commanders on new operational plans for potential strikes against Iran, including options for 'short and powerful' strikes on Iranian infrastructure. [Axios, citing two senior American officials]
Key Figures
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|
| Strait of Hormuz shipping volume as share of pre-war level | ~5% of pre-war monthly vessel count (~3,000 ships/month pre-war) | UK House of Commons Library briefing (CBP-10636) |
| Share of global petroleum normally transiting the Strait of Hormuz | ~20% | UK House of Commons Library briefing (CBP-10636) |
| Israeli civilian deaths from Iranian/Hezbollah attacks since Feb 28 | At least 40 | Institute for National Security Studies (Israel), cited by CBS News |
| Days since US-Iran ceasefire declared (as of May 4) | 26 days (ceasefire: April 8, 2026) | UK House of Commons Library / CBS News |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is 'Project Freedom' and why did it provoke Iran?
Trump's 'Project Freedom' is a US naval mission announced May 3, 2026, to escort commercial ships stranded in or near the Strait of Hormuz. Iran views it as a violation of the April 8 ceasefire and its self-declared closure of the strait to non-friendly shipping; the IRGC warned it would fire on any US forces entering the waterway.
Is the US-Iran ceasefire still in effect after the Hormuz attack?
The April 8 conditional ceasefire's status is now deeply uncertain. Trump told Congress on Friday that hostilities had 'terminated,' but the reported IRGC missile attack on a US warship on May 4 — if confirmed — would be the first direct exchange of fire since April 7, directly challenging that claim. Pakistan-mediated talks are ongoing but at acute risk.
How does the Strait of Hormuz closure affect global oil and gas prices?
Around 20% of global petroleum and 20% of liquefied natural gas normally transits the Strait of Hormuz, according to the UK House of Commons Library. Shipping volumes have collapsed to roughly 5% of pre-war levels; Britannica and AP note that high oil prices from the Iran war are already pushing up consumer goods prices globally, with a fuel-crisis warning issued for Europe as recently as May 2.
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