May 4, 2026
The strike targeted the Fujairah Petroleum Industries Zone and caused a “major fire” at the site, the emirate’s media office said in a statement on Facebook on Monday. According to the authorities, the Indians affected by the attack sustained medium injuries and were taken to the hospital.
Earlier that day, the UAE Defense Ministry said three Iranian cruise missiles were successfully shot down over the Arab nation’s territorial waters. Another cruise missile fell into the sea, the ministry said on X.
A senior Iranian military official has said Tehran has no plans to target the UAE, according to IRIB News. The UAE Foreign Ministry condemned what it called “renewed Iranian aggression.”
Earlier, Iran’s Fars News Agency reported that the Iranian military hit a US Navy patrol boat near the Strait of Hormuz. US Central Command dismissed the claim, saying no navy ships were struck.
The development came after US President Donald Trump promised on Sunday to “help free up” ships stuck in the Strait of Hormuz. The key waterway, accounting for around 20% of global seaborne oil trade, has been de facto closed after the US and Israel launched attacks against Iran in late February.
The disruption has led to soaring oil prices, with the average national gasoline price in the US exceeding $4.40 per gallon.
Despite rising consumer costs and a record-high disapproval rating, Trump decided to maintain a naval blockade of Iranian ports to pressure Tehran to agree to a peace settlement that is satisfactory to Washington.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi called the blockade an “act of war” that violates the ceasefire reached in early April.
Iranian rescue workers dug
through debris by hand to recover religious artifacts from a Tehran synagogue
damaged by an Israeli strike last month, Marjan Yeshayayi, a member of the
local Jewish community, has told RT.
In an exclusive interview broadcast on Monday, she described her dismay at seeing the site reduced to ruins, with holy Torah scrolls buried under the rubble. She said she had asked rescue workers not to use machinery in order to preserve the scriptures.
“When I made the request, I did not believe they would accept it, but instead they said, ‘OK, we will remove it manually,’ and they really did. Each brick was removed by hand, and the scrolls came out safely and were handed over to the Jewish association,” Yeshayayi recalled.
According to Yeshayayi, the Iranian state protects the rights of the Jewish minority. Under the country’s constitution, Jews are allowed to practice their religion freely, including maintaining synagogues and holding services. Roughly 8,000 Jews live in Iran and worship in dozens of synagogues.
The Rafi Niya synagogue, located near Palestine Square in central Tehran, was heavily damaged when a nearby residential building was struck by Israeli fighter jets. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) later acknowledged the strike, saying it had targeted a senior Iranian commander, and expressed regret over “collateral damage” to the synagogue.
Yeshayayi said three of her friends died in the strike, describing her sadness and anger at the attack.
Click to watch the interview
The agency reported on Monday that the unidentified vessel was moving near the Iranian coastal town of Jask, some 140 km from the strait’s narrowest point, and was “violating security and navigation rules [and] intending to pass through” the chokepoint.
The ship did not heed warnings from the Iranian Navy and was targeted by a missile attack, the report said, adding that “the American patrol boat was unable to continue its route due to the hits and was forced to retreat and flee the area.”
US Central Command (CENTCOM) has dismissed the claim, saying that “no US Navy ships have been struck” and that “US forces are supporting Project Freedom and enforcing the naval blockade on Iranian ports.”
The escalation comes after US President Donald Trump promised on Sunday to “help free up” ships stuck in the Strait of Hormuz, some of which have been stranded there since late February. According to Trump, the US military will “guide” ships linked to several countries out of the waterway, “so that they can freely and ably get on with their business,” while warning that any interference would “have to be dealt with forcefully.”
In response, the Iranian military warned that “any foreign military force, especially the invading American army… will be attacked” if they try to approach the Strait of Hormuz.
Following the report, Axios journalist Barack Ravid said, citing an unnamed US official, that “the rules of engagement for US forces in the region have been changed, and they were authorized to strike immediate threats,” including ships crossing the strait and Iranian missile positions.
The strait accounted for about 20% of global seaborne oil trade before the US-Israeli attack on Iran, but has been de facto closed since the start of the conflict, with only a handful of ships being allowed to pass. The disruption has led to soaring oil prices, with the US national average gas price exceeding $4.4.
Despite the rising consumer costs and a record-high disapproval rating, Trump opted to maintain a naval blockade of Iranian ports to pressure Tehran towards a peace settlement. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has declared that the US naval blockade is an “act of war” and a violation of the existing ceasefire.
Under the 1973 War Powers Resolution, the president must obtain congressional approval within 60 days of introducing troops into a conflict or terminate their use, with a possible additional 30-day period to withdraw the troops.
Despite a ceasefire which has been in place since early April, the US continues to enforce a naval blockade on Iranian ports, while Iran has restricted traffic through the Strait of Hormuz. The strategic waterway has been effectively closed as a result.
Democratic and Republican lawmakers are increasingly questioning the administration’s strategy and its efforts to sidestep congressional oversight, with critics arguing that the White House is violating the law by continuing the hostilities beyond 60 days without authorization. Democratic-led resolutions to curb the president’s war powers have repeatedly failed, but some Republicans have begun to break ranks.
The pressure comes after Iran proposed a 14-point peace plan last week seeking a permanent end to the conflict, rather than the previously discussed two-month ceasefire. Trump reacted with skepticism.
Trump’s claim that Iran conflict has been ‘terminated’ fuels dispute
In a letter to Congress on Friday, Trump said the hostilities with Iran have been “terminated.”
“Since April 7, 2026 not a single exchange of fire has been recorded between US forces and Iran,” Trump wrote to House Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate President Pro Tempore Chuck Grassley. “The hostilities that began on February 28 have effectively terminated.”
According to Trump, he stayed within the 60-day limit during the war against Iran and therefore has not violated the law governing the use of force in overseas conflicts.
Democratic Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer rejected the argument as “nonsense.”
“This is an illegal war and every day Republicans remain complicit and allow it to continue is another day lives are endangered, chaos erupts, and prices increase, all while Americans foot the bill,” Schumer wrote on X on Saturday.
Legal ‘pause’ argument
By declaring an end to the campaign, the Trump administration has advanced a legal argument that could clear the way for renewed military action, a view put forward by Secretary of War Pete Hegseth.
“We are in a ceasefire right now, which [in] our understanding means the 60-day clock pauses, or stops,” Hegseth told Senator Tim Kaine during a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing last week.
Kaine disputed this interpretation, saying, “I do not believe the statute would support that,” citing “serious constitutional concerns.” Other Democrats have also challenged the administration’s position, with Senator Jeanne Shaheen saying the conflict remains unauthorized.
Republican Senator Todd Young also questioned the argument, asking: “Is a ceasefire valid if fire could resume tomorrow?”
House Speaker Mike Johnson backed Hegseth’s view, saying the Trump administration is seeking to broker peace and that he would be “very reluctant” to constrain it. “We are not at war,” he said, describing US actions as focused on “policing the Strait of Hormuz.”
Public opposition to Iran war growing
The developments come amid growing opposition to the war. A Washington Post poll published on May 1 found that 61% of Americans believe entering the conflict with Iran was a mistake. Surveys by NPR/PBS/Marist and CNN show a majority oppose the war, while a Reuters/Ipsos poll found support slipping to around one-third by late April.
Democrats are casting Republicans as prioritizing the president’s ambitions over the needs of the American people ahead of the midterm election in November, which could cost the party control of Congress, while repeatedly forcing votes to curb the president’s war powers.
Republicans start breaking ranks
The effort has so far failed as Republicans control both chambers, but while many remain supportive, some are losing patience.
Senator Susan Collins of Maine was among the first Republicans to break ranks, voting with Democrats and fellow Republican Rand Paul to curb the president’s authority. Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska has said she could back legislation allowing continued military action, but only with clear conditions for success and a timeline for withdrawal, rather than a “carte blanche” for the president. If more wavering Republicans join efforts to restrict Trump’s powers, it could limit his ability to act.
Iran’s peace plan
Last week, Iran proposed a 14-point plan seeking a permanent end to the conflict with the US, rather than the previously discussed two-month ceasefire, according to media reports. The plan reportedly includes guarantees against future attacks by Israel and the US, the lifting of sanctions, the withdrawal of US forces from areas surrounding Iran, and a new mechanism to govern the Strait of Hormuz. It also envisages a one-month negotiation period leading to the reopening of the strait, an end to the US naval blockade, and a formal end to the hostilities.
Trump expressed skepticism about the proposal, saying “they’re asking for things I can’t agree to.” He said he would review it, but added that he “can’t imagine” it would be acceptable, and that Iran has not “paid a big enough price” for its actions over the past 47 years.
The back-and-forth has so far resulted a deadlock in which neither party appears to be willing to budge. Although active fighting was paused under a fragile ceasefire last month, both Washington and Tehran continue to rely on economic leverage to force concessions.
Iran submitted its 14-point proposal late Thursday last week, reiterating its conditions for ending the standoff, as described by Iranian news outlet Tasnim. Speaking to Israel’s Kan News on Sunday, Trump said he reviewed the proposal and considers it unacceptable.
Trump had hinted at this stance on social media, writing that Iran “has not yet paid a big enough price for what they have done to Humanity, and the World, over the last 47 years.”
New mechanism to govern Strait of Hormuz in Iran peace proposal – RT reporter (VIDEO)
Read more New mechanism to govern Strait of Hormuz in Iran peace proposal – RT reporter (VIDEO)
The US proposal, which is said to consist of nine points, called for the ceasefire to be extended by two months. Iran reportedly insists that the dispute must be settled within 30 days.
The crisis in the Persian Gulf began in late February with a joint US-Israeli targeted assassinations of Iran’s leadership and a bombing campaign aimed at toppling the government. Tehran responded with retaliatory actions, including strikes against countries that host US bases and disruptions to shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. Amid the ceasefire, Trump ordered a blockade of Iranian ports, even as global supply constraints force Washington to take costly measures to contain oil price increases.
Iran is seeking guarantees against future attacks, reparations – potentially funded through tolls on transit through the Strait of Hormuz – and the continuation of its nuclear program, which it maintains is peaceful in nature. The US demands the complete dismantling of Iran’s nuclear activities and unrestricted navigation through the strategic waterway.
Three Indian nationals have been
injured in the attack, according to the authorities in the Emirate of Fujairah
At least three Indian nationals
have been injured in a drone strike on a major petroleum industrial site in the
Emirate of Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates, the authorities have said. The
incident took place as the Defense Ministry reported that it repelled an
Iranian missile and drone attack.
The strike targeted the Fujairah Petroleum Industries Zone and caused a “major fire” at the site, the emirate’s media office said in a statement on Facebook on Monday. According to the authorities, the Indians affected by the attack sustained medium injuries and were taken to the hospital.
Earlier that day, the UAE Defense Ministry said three Iranian cruise missiles were successfully shot down over the Arab nation’s territorial waters. Another cruise missile fell into the sea, the ministry said on X.
A senior Iranian military official has said Tehran has no plans to target the UAE, according to IRIB News. The UAE Foreign Ministry condemned what it called “renewed Iranian aggression.”
Earlier, Iran’s Fars News Agency reported that the Iranian military hit a US Navy patrol boat near the Strait of Hormuz. US Central Command dismissed the claim, saying no navy ships were struck.
The development came after US President Donald Trump promised on Sunday to “help free up” ships stuck in the Strait of Hormuz. The key waterway, accounting for around 20% of global seaborne oil trade, has been de facto closed after the US and Israel launched attacks against Iran in late February.
The disruption has led to soaring oil prices, with the average national gasoline price in the US exceeding $4.40 per gallon.
Despite rising consumer costs and a record-high disapproval rating, Trump decided to maintain a naval blockade of Iranian ports to pressure Tehran to agree to a peace settlement that is satisfactory to Washington.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi called the blockade an “act of war” that violates the ceasefire reached in early April.
Marjan Yeshayayi has described
the aftermath of an Israeli airstrike that damaged a Tehran synagogue
In an exclusive interview broadcast on Monday, she described her dismay at seeing the site reduced to ruins, with holy Torah scrolls buried under the rubble. She said she had asked rescue workers not to use machinery in order to preserve the scriptures.
“When I made the request, I did not believe they would accept it, but instead they said, ‘OK, we will remove it manually,’ and they really did. Each brick was removed by hand, and the scrolls came out safely and were handed over to the Jewish association,” Yeshayayi recalled.
According to Yeshayayi, the Iranian state protects the rights of the Jewish minority. Under the country’s constitution, Jews are allowed to practice their religion freely, including maintaining synagogues and holding services. Roughly 8,000 Jews live in Iran and worship in dozens of synagogues.
The Rafi Niya synagogue, located near Palestine Square in central Tehran, was heavily damaged when a nearby residential building was struck by Israeli fighter jets. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) later acknowledged the strike, saying it had targeted a senior Iranian commander, and expressed regret over “collateral damage” to the synagogue.
Yeshayayi said three of her friends died in the strike, describing her sadness and anger at the attack.
Click to watch the interview
Tehran previously warned
Washington to stay out of the Strait of Hormuz
A US Navy patrol boat has been
hit by two Iranian missiles not far from the Strait of Hormuz after it ignored
warnings to stay out of the critical waterway, Fars News Agency has reported.
It claimed that the boat was “forced to retreat,” without providing information
on the damage.The agency reported on Monday that the unidentified vessel was moving near the Iranian coastal town of Jask, some 140 km from the strait’s narrowest point, and was “violating security and navigation rules [and] intending to pass through” the chokepoint.
The ship did not heed warnings from the Iranian Navy and was targeted by a missile attack, the report said, adding that “the American patrol boat was unable to continue its route due to the hits and was forced to retreat and flee the area.”
US Central Command (CENTCOM) has dismissed the claim, saying that “no US Navy ships have been struck” and that “US forces are supporting Project Freedom and enforcing the naval blockade on Iranian ports.”
The escalation comes after US President Donald Trump promised on Sunday to “help free up” ships stuck in the Strait of Hormuz, some of which have been stranded there since late February. According to Trump, the US military will “guide” ships linked to several countries out of the waterway, “so that they can freely and ably get on with their business,” while warning that any interference would “have to be dealt with forcefully.”
In response, the Iranian military warned that “any foreign military force, especially the invading American army… will be attacked” if they try to approach the Strait of Hormuz.
Following the report, Axios journalist Barack Ravid said, citing an unnamed US official, that “the rules of engagement for US forces in the region have been changed, and they were authorized to strike immediate threats,” including ships crossing the strait and Iranian missile positions.
The strait accounted for about 20% of global seaborne oil trade before the US-Israeli attack on Iran, but has been de facto closed since the start of the conflict, with only a handful of ships being allowed to pass. The disruption has led to soaring oil prices, with the US national average gas price exceeding $4.4.
Despite the rising consumer costs and a record-high disapproval rating, Trump opted to maintain a naval blockade of Iranian ports to pressure Tehran towards a peace settlement. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has declared that the US naval blockade is an “act of war” and a violation of the existing ceasefire.
The legal battle over
presidential authority has intensified as Democrats force a war powers vote and
some Republicans break ranks
US lawmakers have intensified
efforts to strip President Donald Trump of the authority to continue the Iran
war launched by the US and Israel in February, after the 60-day deadline for
military operations without congressional approval expired on May 1.Under the 1973 War Powers Resolution, the president must obtain congressional approval within 60 days of introducing troops into a conflict or terminate their use, with a possible additional 30-day period to withdraw the troops.
Despite a ceasefire which has been in place since early April, the US continues to enforce a naval blockade on Iranian ports, while Iran has restricted traffic through the Strait of Hormuz. The strategic waterway has been effectively closed as a result.
Democratic and Republican lawmakers are increasingly questioning the administration’s strategy and its efforts to sidestep congressional oversight, with critics arguing that the White House is violating the law by continuing the hostilities beyond 60 days without authorization. Democratic-led resolutions to curb the president’s war powers have repeatedly failed, but some Republicans have begun to break ranks.
The pressure comes after Iran proposed a 14-point peace plan last week seeking a permanent end to the conflict, rather than the previously discussed two-month ceasefire. Trump reacted with skepticism.
Trump’s claim that Iran conflict has been ‘terminated’ fuels dispute
In a letter to Congress on Friday, Trump said the hostilities with Iran have been “terminated.”
“Since April 7, 2026 not a single exchange of fire has been recorded between US forces and Iran,” Trump wrote to House Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate President Pro Tempore Chuck Grassley. “The hostilities that began on February 28 have effectively terminated.”
According to Trump, he stayed within the 60-day limit during the war against Iran and therefore has not violated the law governing the use of force in overseas conflicts.
Democratic Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer rejected the argument as “nonsense.”
“This is an illegal war and every day Republicans remain complicit and allow it to continue is another day lives are endangered, chaos erupts, and prices increase, all while Americans foot the bill,” Schumer wrote on X on Saturday.
Legal ‘pause’ argument
By declaring an end to the campaign, the Trump administration has advanced a legal argument that could clear the way for renewed military action, a view put forward by Secretary of War Pete Hegseth.
“We are in a ceasefire right now, which [in] our understanding means the 60-day clock pauses, or stops,” Hegseth told Senator Tim Kaine during a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing last week.
Kaine disputed this interpretation, saying, “I do not believe the statute would support that,” citing “serious constitutional concerns.” Other Democrats have also challenged the administration’s position, with Senator Jeanne Shaheen saying the conflict remains unauthorized.
Republican Senator Todd Young also questioned the argument, asking: “Is a ceasefire valid if fire could resume tomorrow?”
House Speaker Mike Johnson backed Hegseth’s view, saying the Trump administration is seeking to broker peace and that he would be “very reluctant” to constrain it. “We are not at war,” he said, describing US actions as focused on “policing the Strait of Hormuz.”
Public opposition to Iran war growing
The developments come amid growing opposition to the war. A Washington Post poll published on May 1 found that 61% of Americans believe entering the conflict with Iran was a mistake. Surveys by NPR/PBS/Marist and CNN show a majority oppose the war, while a Reuters/Ipsos poll found support slipping to around one-third by late April.
Democrats are casting Republicans as prioritizing the president’s ambitions over the needs of the American people ahead of the midterm election in November, which could cost the party control of Congress, while repeatedly forcing votes to curb the president’s war powers.
Republicans start breaking ranks
The effort has so far failed as Republicans control both chambers, but while many remain supportive, some are losing patience.
Senator Susan Collins of Maine was among the first Republicans to break ranks, voting with Democrats and fellow Republican Rand Paul to curb the president’s authority. Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska has said she could back legislation allowing continued military action, but only with clear conditions for success and a timeline for withdrawal, rather than a “carte blanche” for the president. If more wavering Republicans join efforts to restrict Trump’s powers, it could limit his ability to act.
Iran’s peace plan
Last week, Iran proposed a 14-point plan seeking a permanent end to the conflict with the US, rather than the previously discussed two-month ceasefire, according to media reports. The plan reportedly includes guarantees against future attacks by Israel and the US, the lifting of sanctions, the withdrawal of US forces from areas surrounding Iran, and a new mechanism to govern the Strait of Hormuz. It also envisages a one-month negotiation period leading to the reopening of the strait, an end to the US naval blockade, and a formal end to the hostilities.
Trump expressed skepticism about the proposal, saying “they’re asking for things I can’t agree to.” He said he would review it, but added that he “can’t imagine” it would be acceptable, and that Iran has not “paid a big enough price” for its actions over the past 47 years.
The US president says Tehran’s
proposed path to de-escalation is not acceptable
US President Donald Trump has
rejected an Iranian counterproposal to a peace plan previously conveyed via
Pakistani intermediaries.The back-and-forth has so far resulted a deadlock in which neither party appears to be willing to budge. Although active fighting was paused under a fragile ceasefire last month, both Washington and Tehran continue to rely on economic leverage to force concessions.
Iran submitted its 14-point proposal late Thursday last week, reiterating its conditions for ending the standoff, as described by Iranian news outlet Tasnim. Speaking to Israel’s Kan News on Sunday, Trump said he reviewed the proposal and considers it unacceptable.
Trump had hinted at this stance on social media, writing that Iran “has not yet paid a big enough price for what they have done to Humanity, and the World, over the last 47 years.”
New mechanism to govern Strait of Hormuz in Iran peace proposal – RT reporter (VIDEO)
Read more New mechanism to govern Strait of Hormuz in Iran peace proposal – RT reporter (VIDEO)
The US proposal, which is said to consist of nine points, called for the ceasefire to be extended by two months. Iran reportedly insists that the dispute must be settled within 30 days.
The crisis in the Persian Gulf began in late February with a joint US-Israeli targeted assassinations of Iran’s leadership and a bombing campaign aimed at toppling the government. Tehran responded with retaliatory actions, including strikes against countries that host US bases and disruptions to shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. Amid the ceasefire, Trump ordered a blockade of Iranian ports, even as global supply constraints force Washington to take costly measures to contain oil price increases.
Iran is seeking guarantees against future attacks, reparations – potentially funded through tolls on transit through the Strait of Hormuz – and the continuation of its nuclear program, which it maintains is peaceful in nature. The US demands the complete dismantling of Iran’s nuclear activities and unrestricted navigation through the strategic waterway.
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