Iran-US war latest: Trump says Iran will be ‘blown off the face of the Earth’ if US ships are targeted
Donald Trump has warned that Iran could be “blown off the face of the earth” if US vessels are attacked in the Strait of Hormuz, as tensions in the region continue to escalate.
His remarks came after Washington launched “Project Freedom” to assist hundreds of ships stranded in the Gulf.
Trump claimed US forces had destroyed seven small Iranian boats, a claim that Tehran denied.
Trump described the ongoing US naval effort as “one of the greatest military manoeuvres ever done”.
Meanwhile, US Central Command denied Iranian claims that two Iranian missiles struck a US warship intending to pass through the Strait of Hormuz.
Semi-official state news agency Fars said the warship was turned back after it was struck while sailing near Jask island, after Tehran earlier warned it would attack any US boats that entered the Strait of Hormuz.
Trump said that “Project Freedom” aimed to “free up people, companies, and Countries that have done absolutely nothing wrong”.Iran had afterwards warned that “any foreign armed forces, especially the aggressive US army, will be attacked” if they approach the Strait.
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The company told the BBC that the transit was “completed without incident, and all crew members are safe and unharmed”.
Iran’s foreign minister Abbas Araghchi said the situation in the strait has made it clear that “there’s no military solution” to the political crisis and dismissed the US effort, saying “Project Freedom is Project Deadlock”.
The Strait of Hormuz has remained largely blocked since the US and Israeli air strikes on Iran in February.
Maroosha Muzaffar5 May 2026 06:20UAE strongly condemns suspected Iranian attacks
The United Arab Emirates strongly condemned the wave of missiles and drone attacks, believed to have originated from Iran on Monday and called them a “dangerous escalation” and a clear violation of international law.
The strikes left three Indian nationals injured and, according to officials, pose a direct threat to the country’s security, stability, and territorial safety.
The UAE earlier said it had intercepted several missiles and drones from Iran.
However, some reports said that the Iranian military has rejected these accusations.
Al Jazeera reported that an Iranian military official told Iranian state media that Tehran had no plans to target the UAE, adding that the missiles and drones involved were not “engaged from Iranian territory”.
Meanwhile, Qatar, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the Gulf Cooperation Council, France, Germany and the United Kingdom have all condemned the suspected Iranian missile and drone attack on the UAE.
The UAE said it will not tolerate any compromise on its sovereignty and reserves the full right to respond in line with international law, according to The Khaleej Times.
Maroosha Muzaffar5 May 2026 06:08South Korea to investigate cause of fire on bulk carrier in the Strait of Hormuz
South Korea’s foreign ministry has said it will investigate the cause of the fire aboard a South Korean-operated vessel in the Strait of Hormuz.
“The exact cause of the accident would be figured out after the vessel is towed and its damage is assessed,” the ministry was quoted as saying by Reuters.
The fire broke out in the engine room of the bulk carrier. No casualties were reported among the 24 crew members on board.
The ship was anchored near UAE waters when the explosion occurred.
Donald Trump claimed Iran fired on the vessel.
Operator HMM said it was unclear whether it was an external attack or an internal issue.
Maroosha Muzaffar5 May 2026 05:41UAE schools move to remote learning after attacks
The United Arab Emirates’ education ministry has directed schools to shift to remote learning for the remainder of the week as a safety precaution following Iran’s attacks.
Drone and missile strikes were reported across the UAE on Monday.
“The current situation will be reassessed on Friday, May 8, 2026, if there is a need to extend the period,” the education ministry added.
Authorities said the strikes included an attack on the key Fujairah energy hub, where three Indians were wounded.
Maroosha Muzaffar5 May 2026 05:31Mark Carney condemns attack on UAE oil facility
Canada has strongly condemned the reported Iranian missile attack on a UAE oil facility and several vessels.
In a statement, Carney said: “We stand in solidarity with Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed and the people of the United Arab Emirates and commend defensive efforts to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure.
“Canada reiterates its call for de-escalation and diplomacy in the region.”
Earlier, the UAE reported multiple attacks from Iran, with its defence ministry saying it intercepted several missiles and drones.
The attack has drawn wider international concern.
Maroosha Muzaffar5 May 2026 05:18Japan receives first shipment of Russian oil since Iran war disrupted energy supply
Japan has received its first shipment of Russian oil since the Iran war disrupted global supply by effectively closing the Strait of Hormuz, according to The Asahi Shimbun.
The crude was sourced from the Sakhalin-2 project in Russia and delivered to western Japan. This was supposed to help Tokyo’s effort to diversify supplies as it relies on the Middle East for about 95 per cent of its oil imports.
According to AFP, the Sakhalin-2 project is not covered by current sanctions on Moscow, enabling the shipment, which was reportedly encouraged by Japan’s economy ministry.
On Monday, Japanese prime minister Sanae Takaichi said the supply squeeze was having an “enormous impact” on the Asia-Pacific region.
Maroosha Muzaffar5 May 2026 04:42‘No military solution to a political crisis’, says Iranian foreign minister
Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araqchi has said that events in the Strait of Hormuz show that there is “no military solution” to the crisis, while warning the US and UAE against being drawn into a “quagmire”.
Araghchi added: “As talks are making progress with Pakistan’s gracious effort, the US should be wary of being dragged back into quagmire by ill-wishers. So should the UAE.
“Project Freedom is Project Deadlock.”
The US launched “Project Freedom” – to help hundreds of ships stranded in the Gulf “safely” out of harm’s way.
Trump wrote on Truth Social on Sunday: “These are Ships from areas of the World that are not in any way involved with that which is currently taking place in the Middle East.
“I have told my Representatives to inform them that we will use best efforts to get their Ships and Crews safely out of the Strait.
“In all cases, they said they will not be returning until the area becomes safe for navigation and everything else.”
Maroosha Muzaffar5 May 2026 04:28Trump warns Iran could be ‘blown off the face of the earth’ if US vessels attacked
Donald Trump has warned that Iran could be “blown off the face of the earth” if US vessels are attacked in the Strait of Hormuz.
His comments came after the US launched “Project Freedom” – to help hundreds of ships stranded in the Gulf.
The US military also claimed to have sunk six small Iranian boats. But Iran denied this.
Trump described the ongoing US naval effort as “one of the greatest military manoeuvres ever done”.
“We have more weapons and ammunition at a much higher grade than we had before.
“We have the best equipment. We have stuff all over the world. We have these bases all over the world. They’re all stocked up with equipment. We can use all of that stuff, and we will, if we need it,” Trump said in an interview with Fox News.
Maroosha Muzaffar5 May 2026 04:13Briefing: What we know on the 67th day of the US-Israel war on Iran
- The US military claims to have sunk six small Iranian boats as tensions rise in the Strait of Hormuz
- Abbas Araqchi says events in the Strait of Hormuz show no military solution to the crisis, while warning the US and UAE against being drawn into a “quagmire”
- Fire on a South Korean HMM vessel in the Strait of Hormuz has been extinguished, with no casualties reported
- The UAE says it intercepted 12 ballistic missiles, 3 cruise missiles and 4 drones fired by Iran
- Donald Trump warns Iran could be “blown off the face of the earth” if US vessels are attacked
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