NPR
U.S. attempt to open Strait of Hormuz tests fragile Iran war ceasefire
+1203 words added -1172 words removed
Special Series Middle East conflict Conflict in the Middle East has been escalating. These stories provide context for current developments and the history that led up to them.
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− By
The Associated Press
A bulk cargo ship sits at anchor in the Strait of Hormuz off Bandar Abbas, Iran, Saturday, May 2, 2026.
+ By
The Associated Press
A bulk cargo ship sits at anchor in the Strait of Hormuz off Bandar Abbas, Iran, May 2.
− Amirhosein Khorgooi/AP/ISNA hide caption
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — The Iran war risked reigniting after the U.S.
+ Amirhosein Khorgooi/ISNA via AP hide caption
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — U.S.
− 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.S.
+ military leaders said a ceasefire remains in effect a day after Iran was blamed for new attacks in the Strait of Hormuz and against the United Arab Emirates.
− of undermining regional security with the effort and warned that Iran will respond.
+ The key American ally later said it came under Iranian drone and missile attack again on Tuesday.
− The U.S.
+ State of the World from NPR The standoff in the Strait of Hormuz Still, the fragile truce reached nearly a month ago appeared to be holding as U.S.
− 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.
+ forces pressed ahead with efforts to reopen the strait, a vital waterway for global energy.
− The tanker had a stated destination of Singapore, according to the MarineTraffic ship tracking site.
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.
+ On Monday, the U.S.
− Breaking that chokehold would ease global economic concerns and deny Tehran a major source of leverage.
+ said it had opened a lane and sunk six small Iranian boats that had threatened commercial ships.
− But such efforts also risk reigniting the full-scale fighting that erupted when the U.S.
+ So far, only two merchant ships are known to have passed through the new U.S.-guarded route, with hundreds more bottled up in the Persian Gulf.
− and Israel first attacked Iran on Feb.
+ Shippers are still wary, and it's unclear whether U.S.
− 28, prompting it to close the strait.
An Iranian demonstrator waves a flag of Lebanon's militant Hezbollah group under an anti-U.S.
+ military action can reassure them without reigniting the conflict that began with U.S.
− 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.
+ and Israeli strikes on Iran on Feb.
− Vahid Salemi/AP hide caption
Iran has said the new U.S. effort is a violation of the fragile ceasefire that has held for more than three weeks.
+ 28.
− 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.
+ The image above shows the Strait of Hormuz and its traditional shipping routes and northern routes that Iran has opened to vessels unaffiliated with the U.S.
− He signaled that Tehran has yet to fully respond to the U.S.
+ or Israel.
− attempt to reopen the waterway, saying: "We know full well that the continuation of the status quo is intolerable for America; while we have not even begun yet."
U.S.
+ Phil Holm/AP hide caption
State of the World from NPR Economic effects of the war in Iran ripple around the globe Iran's effective closure of the strait, through which major oil and gas supplies passed before the war, along with fertilizer and other petroleum products, has sent fuel prices skyrocketing and rattled the global economy.
− President Donald Trump on Sunday warned that Iranian efforts to halt passage through the strait "will, unfortunately, have to be dealt with forcefully." He said the U.S.
+ Breaking Iran's grip would deny its main source of leverage as U.S.
− effort to reopen the strait, dubbed "Project Freedom," was intended to aid stranded seafarers on hundreds of ships that have been stuck in the Persian Gulf since the war began.
+ President Donald Trump demands a major rollback of its disputed nuclear program.
− The image above shows the Strait of Hormuz and its traditional shipping routes and northern routes that Iran has opened to vessels unaffiliated with the U.S.
+ U.S.
− or Israel.
+ Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Gen.
− Phil Holm/AP hide caption
The U.S.-led Joint Maritime Information Center advised ships on Monday to cross the strait in Oman's waters, saying it had set up an "enhanced security area."
Adm.
+ Dan Caine, the U.S.
− Brad Cooper, commander of U.S.
+ military's top officer, told a news conference Tuesday that Iran's renewed attacks hadn't reached the threshold of what Caine called "major combat operations." He said Tuesday marked a "quieter" day in the strait.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen.
− Central Command, said American forces had successfully opened a passage free of Iranian mines.
+ Dan Caine speak to members of the media during a press briefing at the Pentagon in Washington, Tuesday.
− He said Iran launched multiple cruise missiles, drones and small boats at civilian ships under the U.S.
+ Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP hide caption
"No, the ceasefire is not over," Hegseth said, affirming Caine's assessment.
− military's protection.
+ They spoke before the latest attacks on the UAE.
Iran has said the new effort does violate the ceasefire.
− U.S.
+ Iran's parliament speaker and chief negotiator, Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, signaled that Iran has yet to fully respond to the U.S.
− military helicopters sank six of the small boats, Cooper said.
+ attempt to reopen the waterway.
− The United Arab Emirates' Defense Ministry said its air defenses had engaged 15 missiles and four drones fired by Iran.
+ Middle East conflict The Iran war now has a price tag ($25 billion), but still no end date "We know full well that the continuation of the status quo is intolerable for America; while we have not even begun yet," he said in a post on X.
− Authorities in the eastern emirate of Fujairah said one drone sparked a fire at a key oil facility, wounding three Indian nationals.
+ His statement did not mention negotiations with the U.S.
− The British military reported two cargo vessels ablaze off the UAE.
+ that are now in the form of passing messages via Pakistan.
− Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday condemned the attacks, saying the targeting of civilians and infrastructure was "unacceptable." In a statement on X, Modi said India stands in "firm solidarity" with the UAE, and stressed the need for safe and uninterrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, saying it "is vital for enduring regional peace, stability and global energy security."
Tehran did not confirm or deny the attacks but early on Tuesday, Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on X that both the U.S.
+ Disputing Washington's claim of sinking six boats, an Iranian military commander said two small civilian cargo boats were hit on Monday, killing five civilians, Iran's state TV reported.
Caine, the top U.S.
− and the UAE "should be wary of being dragged back into quagmire."
Pakistan, which has been mediating between the U.S.
+ general who serves as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said more than 100 U.S.
− and Iran, and Saudi Arabia both condemned the strikes against the UAE.
+ military aircraft are patrolling skies around the strait.
− Saudi's condemnation, in a statement from its foreign ministry, called on Iran "to cease these attacks, comply with the principles of international law and relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions, and respect the principles of good neighborliness."
The statement came despite increasingly strained relations between Saudi and the UAE.
+ The Trump administration has cited the April 8 ceasefire in asserting that the president does not have to give a formal update to Congress on the war under the War Powers Resolution. That law typically requires presidents to seek formal approval from Congress for war activities 60 days after beginning military action.
− Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif called for the ceasefire to be upheld, and said in a post on X that Pakistan stands firmly with "our Emirati brothers and sisters as well as with the government of the United Arab Emirates at this difficult time."
The disruption of the waterway has squeezed countries in Europe and Asia that depend on Persian Gulf oil and gas, raising prices far beyond the region.
+ So far, just two civilian vessels, both U.S.-flagged merchant ships, are known to have passed through the strait as part of the lane the U.S. says it has created. Shipping company Maersk said one of them, a vehicle carrier that it operates, exited the strait safely with U.S. military assistance on Monday.
− Middle East conflict The Iran war now has a price tag ($25 billion), but still no end date The U.S.
+ An Iranian demonstrator waves a flag of the Iran-backed Lebanese militant group Hezbollah under an anti-U.S.
− has meanwhile enforced a naval blockade on Iranian ports since April 13, telling at least 49 commercial ships to turn back, according to Central Command.
+ 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.
− It's also warned shipping companies they could face sanctions if they pay Iran for transit of the strait.
+ Vahid Salemi/AP hide caption
Former military officers who have served on the strait have said opening it would be dangerous and highly challenging, even with military escorts, which the U.S. isn't providing now.
− The blockade has deprived Tehran of oil revenue it needs to shore up its ailing economy.
+ There's little room to maneuver in the narrow waterway — just 21 miles (34 kilometers) wide — and Iran can reach all of the strait and its approaches with cruise missiles.
− U.S.
+ It also can target vessels with longer-range missiles, drones, fast attack craft and mines.
"At this point in time our risk assessment remains unchanged," Hapag-Lloyd AG, one of the world's largest container shipping companies, said in a statement.
− officials have expressed hope the blockade will force Iran to make concessions in talks on its disputed nuclear program and other longstanding issues.
+ "Transits through the Strait of Hormuz are for the moment not possible for our ships."
Ship tracking data showed a Panamanian-flagged crude oil tanker heading toward the center of the strait Tuesday after leaving an anchorage in the Persian Gulf, though it was unclear if it would try to pass through.
− Iran's latest proposal for ending the war calls for the U.S.
+ Iran has attacked ships that try to transit without going through its own route in the northern part of the strait along its coastline.
− to lift sanctions, end the blockade, withdraw forces from the region, and cease all hostilities including Israel's operations in Lebanon, according to the semiofficial Nour News and Tasnim agencies, which have close ties to Iran's security apparatus.
+ That involves being vetted by Iran's Revolutionary Guard and payment in some cases.
− Iranian officials said they were reviewing the U.S.
+ The U.S.-approved route goes through territorial waters of Oman to the south.
"For shipping companies and for insurance companies, they still have to wait and see how this plays out," said Torbjorn Soltvedt, principal Middle East analyst at risk intelligence company Verisk Maplecroft.
"This initiative alone isn't something that looks like it's going to open the Strait of Hormuz," he said.
The United Arab Emirates said Monday its air defenses had engaged 15 missiles and four drones fired by Iran.
− response, though Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei told reporters Monday that changing demands made diplomacy difficult.
+ Authorities in the eastern emirate of Fujairah said one drone sparked a fire at a key oil facility, wounding three Indian nationals.
− He did not give details.
+ The British military reported two cargo vessels ablaze off the UAE, also on Monday.
− Iran has claimed its proposal does not include its nuclear program and enriched uranium — long a driving force in tensions with the U.S.
+ On Tuesday, the UAE's Defense Ministry said it was responding to another Iranian drone and missile attack.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi called the targeting of UAE civilians and infrastructure "unacceptable." Pakistan and Saudi Arabia also condemned the strikes.
Tehran did not confirm or deny the attacks.
− and Israel.
+ But Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tuesday on X that the U.S. and the UAE "should be wary of being dragged back into quagmire."
Closing the strait has squeezed countries in Europe and Asia that depend on Persian Gulf oil and gas, raising prices far beyond the region.
− Iran wants other issues resolved within 30 days and aims to end the war rather than extend the ceasefire.
+ The U.S.
− Trump expressed doubt over the weekend that the proposal would lead to a deal.
+ has imposed a naval blockade on Iranian ports since April 13. It also has warned shipping companies they could face sanctions if they pay Iran for transit of the strait.
+ The blockade has deprived Tehran of oil revenue it needs to shore up its ailing economy. U.S. officials have expressed hope the blockade will force Iran to make concessions in talks on its nuclear program and other longstanding issues.