Iran war: UAE reports first Iranian missile and drone attacks in weeks
What you need to know
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The US says two merchant vessels passed through the Strait of Hormuz, with a US Navy escort
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UAE says air defense systems are responding to missile and drone attacks, reports fire at oil facility
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Iran says interference in the Strait would be seen as a ceasefire violation
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Tehran says it is weighing Washington's response to 14-point proposal
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The US transfered 22 crew members of seized Iranian ship to Pakistan
Here are the latest developments from the war in Iran and the wider Middle East on Monday, May 4:
Skip next section Iranian media warns UAE against 'misstep'05/04/2026May 4, 2026Iranian media warns UAE against 'misstep'
Iranian state-affiliated media has warned that the United Arab Emirates and "all of its interests" could become a target if Emirati authorities "make a misstep."
The semi-official Tasnim news agency cited "an informed Iranian military source" as warning that if the UAE sides with Israel and takes action against Iran, "they will learn a lesson they will never forget."
"The UAE knows it is sitting in a very fragile glass house and that insecurity is absolute poison for it," Tasnim quoted the unnamed source as saying.
The comments come after the UAE said it detected multiple cruise missiles and drones fired from the direction of Iran and accused Iran of attacking an empty oil tanker that was attempting to cross the Strait of Hormuz.
https://p.dw.com/p/5DGzYSkip next section CENTCOM commander says US has contacted 'dozens' of stuck ships05/04/2026May 4, 2026CENTCOM commander says US has contacted 'dozens' of stuck ships
The US military's Central Command (CENTCOM) has issued a comment from its commander, Admiral Brad Cooper, on the operation dubbed "Project Freedom" by President Donald Trump to try to get merchant vessels moving through the Strait of Hormuz, despite Iran's efforts to control the passage.
Cooper said that the vessels currently stranded in the Persian Gulf represented 87 countries and were "merely neutral and innocent bystanders" amid the conflict.
"Over the last 12 hours, we've reached out to dozens of ships and shipping companies to encourage traffic flow through the [Strait of Hormuz], consistent with the president's intent to help guide ships safely through the narrow trade corridor," Cooper said.
The comment did not make clear how many ships had responded to the US contact, whether positively or negatively, or what encouraging traffic flow entailed.
Several hours earlier, CENTCOM had said that two US-flagged merchant vessels had passed through the Strait "as a first step."
Cooper declined to say during a call with reporters whether CENTCOM deemed the ceasefire to be over or not, but alleged that Iran "initiated aggressive behavior" in the Strait of Hormuz on Monday, and said "we are simply going to respond to that."
He said that military helicopters had sunk six Iranian small boats that were targeting civilan vessels in the Strait. Trump also referenced this in a post on Truth Social.
https://p.dw.com/p/5DGv0Skip next section German mine-hunting ship heads for Mediterranean on forward deployment 05/04/2026May 4, 2026German mine-hunting ship heads for Mediterranean on forward deployment
The German navy's FGS Fulda mine-hunter has left port in Kiel in northern Germany bound for the Mediterranean.
It is moving into a forward deployment position in case it is needed to help a European mission to secure maritime transport in the Strait of Hormuz after a peace deal between the US and Iran is reached.
Germany's US Embassy posted at length about Monday's deployment online, as Berlin seeks to placate Donald Trump following Chancellor Friedrich Merz's comments about the war last week and Trump's angry response.
The embassy said the Fulda was pre-positioning so it could reach the Gulf as quickly as possible if called upon. It said Germany could contribute to sea-based mine countermeasures, command and logistics capabilities, and aerial reconnaissance.
"Any deployment requires three clear conditions: A sustainable end to hostilities; a mandate under international law; authorization from the German Parliament (Bundestag)," the embassy wrote.
Additional German naval assets were expected to follow the Fulda in the coming weeks, the Embassy said.
https://p.dw.com/p/5DGqwSkip next section Oil prices rise as Hormuz tensions escalate05/04/2026May 4, 2026Oil prices rise as Hormuz tensions escalate
Both benchmark oil prices rose considerably during Monday's trade as tensions flared up in the Strait of Hormuz.
Just after 1600 GMT/UTC, with European and Asian markets closed but trading ongoing in the US, a barrel of Brent Crude was selling for just over $114 (roughly €97.50). That compared to a price nearer $105 at the start of the day.
West Texas Intermediate, meanwhile, was selling at roughly $105 per barrel, compared to roughly $100 at the start of the day.
For most of February, before the attacks on Iran, a barrel of Brent Crude was selling for a little more than $65. It's peaked in isolated moments of trading at levels higher than $120 amid the war, and the highest daily average prices of recent weeks fall just shy of the prices it was commanding on Monday evening.
Related products that are exported in bulk through the Strait of Hormuz — like liquid natural gas, fertilizers and jet fuel — have also seen sharp rises in recent weeks.
https://p.dw.com/p/5DGmOSkip next section Qatar condemns Iranian attack on empty UAE oil tanker05/04/2026May 4, 2026
Qatar condemns Iranian attack on empty UAE oil tanker
Qatar's Foreign Ministry says it "strongly condemns" Iran for a reported drone attack on an unladen UAE-flagged oil tanker earlier in the day.
In a statement online, Qatar described the attack as "a blatant violation of international law and the principle of freedom of maritime navigation, as well as a flagrant breach of Security Council Resuolution No. 2817."
Resolution 2817, agreed in March this year, condemned Iran for its attacks on Gulf states and their assets in response to the US and Israeli attacks against it, declaring them a breach of international law and a threat to global peace. Russia and China had abstained, enabling its 13-0 passage in a vote.
"The Ministry of Foreign Affairs reiterates the State of Qatar's categorical rejection of using the Strait of Hormuz as a tool of pressure, calling for its unconditional reopening and affirming that freedom of navigation in this vital waterway is a firmly established principle that must not be compromised," the ministry wrote.
Although it is a far less prolific exporter than the UAE, oil and gas are crucial exports for Qatar.
https://p.dw.com/p/5DGfUSkip next section UAE reports missile and drone attacks, fire at oil facility05/04/2026May 4, 2026UAE reports missile and drone attacks, fire at oil facility
The United Arab Emirates has issued further warnings of attempted missile and drone attacks. The Defense Ministry said that four missiles were fired in its direction in total but all were either intercepted or crash landed.
"Four cruise missiles were detected approaching the country from Iran. Three were successfully intercepted over the country's territorial waters, while the fourth fell into the sea," the ministry said.
In a subsequent post, the Gulf country, located just across the Strait of Hormuz, said its air defense systems were "actively engaging operations of missiles and UAV's," meaning unmanned aerial vehicles or drones.
The ministry urged the public to remain calm and follow any instructions from officials.
Meanwhile, the media office of the port city of Fujairah reported that a fire broke out at the Fujairah Oil Industry Zone following what it described as an attack originating from Iran. It said civil defense teams were immediately deployed to the scene to contain the blaze.
There had been no such attacks in recent weeks in the UAE since the ceasefire between Iran and the US came into effect on April 8.
https://p.dw.com/p/5DGPWSkip next section WATCH — How oil-thirsty China insulated itself from the shock in the Gulf05/04/2026May 4, 2026WATCH — How oil-thirsty China insulated itself from the shock in the Gulf
China is the world's biggest importer of oil by volume — and by a hefty margin.
It is also widely considered to be the biggest buyer of Iranian oil, via so-called "teapot refineries" that can circumvent sanctions without implicating Beijing.
Although it is expanding its domestic production, around three-quarters of its oil still comes from abroad.
So why does China seem better placed than many other Asian countries amid the current delivery bottleneck? This video explains:
How China insulated itself from Gulf oil crises
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https://p.dw.com/p/5DGPLSkip next section South Korea says investigating cause of fire on HMM ship in Strait of Hormuz05/04/2026May 4, 2026South Korea says investigating cause of fire on HMM ship in Strait of Hormuz
South Korea's Foreign Ministry has said it is investigating the cause of a fire and explosion on a ship operated by the HMM company in the Strait of Hormuz.
It said that 24 crew members were on board.
The ministry said the ship was anchored near the United Arab Emirates inside the Strait of Hormuz at the time of the fire, suggesting it was one of the series of ships waiting or hoping for passage through the waterway.
The ministry said it would coordinate closely with the relevant countries to determine the cause of the fire and details of the damage sustained.
"The consular affairs bureau is verifying information that a South Korean vessel came under attack. We have preliminarily confirmed that there are no casualties among our nationals," South Korea's Yonhap news agency quoted an official as saying.
A spokesperson for the HMM shipping company told the Reuters news agency that there were no reports of casualties or injuries, and that the fire broke out in the engine room of one of its bulk carriers.
https://p.dw.com/p/5DG51Skip next section UAE issues first missile alert in weeks, but soon sounds all clear05/04/2026May 4, 2026UAE issues first missile alert in weeks, but soon sounds all clear
Authorities in the United Arab Emirates have issued their first mobile phone alert warning of potential missile threats since early April, albeit soon sending out an all clear.
The alert went out as the dispute between the US and Iran over Donald Trump's desire to use the military to help commercial vessels navigate the Strait of Hormuz threatened to escalate.
It also came shortly after the UAE accused Iran of firing on an empty oil tanker.
The Interior Ministry said less than half an hour after sending out the SMS alert that people could resume their normal activities "while continuing to remain cautious and take the necessary precautions." It had initially told people to seek shelter in a safe place and await further instructions.
The UAE, situated just across the Strait of Hormuz, came under frequent fire in the first weeks of the war after the US and Israel's attacks on Iran, particularly during March.
But since the Iran-US ceasefire came into effect on April 8, the situation had calmed markedly.
Why the UAE is quitting OPEC now
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https://p.dw.com/p/5DG0hSkip next section US says 2 merchant vessels 'successfully transited' Strait of Hormuz05/04/2026May 4, 2026US says 2 merchant vessels 'successfully transited' Strait of Hormuz
The US military has said that two Navy guided-missile destroyers have entered the Gulf to break an Iranian blockade and that two US-flagged merchant vessels had transited through the Strait of Hormuz, amid Iranian efforts to block unauthorized traffic.
"US Navy guided-missile destroyers are currently operating in the Arabian Gulf after transiting the Strait of Hormuz in support of Project Freedom," Central Command (CENTCOM), responsible for operations in the region, said online, referring to Donald Trump's new proposal to help commercial vessels transit the strait.
Iran and most others refer to the sea in question as the Persian Gulf rather than the Arabian Gulf, but it's a reference to the same marginal sea of the Indian Ocean.
"American forces are actively assisting efforts to restore transit for commercial shipping. As a first step, two US-flagged merchant vessels have successfully transited through the Strait of Hormuz and are safely headed on their journey," CENTCOM said.
Iran had previously said it would consider US efforts to guide commercial ships through the Strait of Hormuz as a violation of the ceasefire.
Amid the ceasefire, the two militaries had continued to try to restrict maritime traffic — with Iran seeking to control the Strait of Hormuz and the US seeking to blockade Iran's ports.
How Iran exposed the limits of the US Navy
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https://p.dw.com/p/5DFasSkip next section US military says Iranian reports of missiles striking warship are false05/04/2026May 4, 2026US military says Iranian reports of missiles striking warship are false
The US military's Central Command, responsible for operations in the Middle East and the Gulf, says that Iranian reports of missiles striking a US warship are not accurate.
"Iranian state media claims that Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps hit a U.S. warship with two missiles," Centcom wrote online. "No U.S. Navy ships have been struck. U.S. forces are supporting Project Freedom and enforcing the naval blockade on Iranian ports."
Iranian news agencies including the semiofficial Fars and the Iranian Labour News Agency had reported Iranian strikes on a US vessel southeast of the Strait of Hormuz off Iran's coast, accusing it of "violating maritime security and navigation norms."
The contesting claims come amid the launch of "Project Freedom," a contentious offer by the US Navy to guide certain commercial ships through the Strait, as Iran seeks to halt most ships' passage through the narrow waterway.
US President Donald Trump announced the plan on Sunday but details of what it might entail have been vague.
Iran responded by calling it a violation of the terms of the fragile ceasefire that has more or less halted kinetic warfare between the two sides, other than the naval wrangling over access to the strait and other waters in the area.
https://p.dw.com/p/5DFWUSkip next section UAE accuses Iran of drone attack on empty oil tanker05/04/2026May 4, 2026UAE accuses Iran of drone attack on empty oil tanker
Alex Berry EditorThe United Arab Emirates has accused Iran of using drones to attack an empty oil tanker as it attempted to pass through the Strait of Hormuz.
The "Barakah" ship belongs to the Abu Dhabi state oil company ADNOC.
ADNOC said the Barakah was attaclked by two drones, but that no injuries were reported.
"The UAE further stressed the need for Iran to halt these unprovoked attacks, ensure its full commitement to an immediate cessation of all hostilities, and the complete and unconditional opening of the Strait of Hormuz," the UAE's Foreign Minsitry said.
Iran has blocked many non-Iranian ships from passing through the Strait of Hormuz since the US and Israel began attacking it on February 28. It has threatened to attack vessels passing through the waterway without authorization.
The United Kingdom Maritime Trado Operations (UKMTO) agency had earlier reported a tanker in the region being hit by unknown projectiles.
Strait of Hormuz and the global fight over shipping lanes
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https://p.dw.com/p/5DFJNSkip next section Oil price rises despite Trump's plan to guide ships out of Hormuz05/04/2026May 4, 2026Oil price rises despite Trump's plan to guide ships out of Hormuz
Oil prices surged on Monday, with markets unimpressed by US President Donald Trump's plan to help stranded ships pass through the key oil route, the Strait of Hormuz.
Brent crude initially climbed 1.54% to $109.84 per barrel for July delivery, while US crude rose over 2% to $104.18, reflecting heightened supply concerns.
Traders remain skeptical that the US plan will succeed.
The US Central Command said it would support the initiative with 15,000 troops, warships, aircraft and drones, though Trump has shared few operational details.
A report by Axios later said the US Navy may not directly escort commercial ships, adding to market uncertainty.
Brent futures later rose even further, jumping over $2.50 to $110.73 per barrel, after recovering from early losses during Asian trading hours.
Oil prices have already been volatile—crude crossed $126 per barrel last week, the highest level since 2022, following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
https://p.dw.com/p/5DE0ASkip next section ANALYSIS: What is Europe's plan to secure Hormuz?05/04/2026May 4, 2026ANALYSIS: What is Europe's plan to secure Hormuz?
Anchal VohraThe UK and France are leading efforts to establish a multinational mission to secure shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. But questions remain about the scope of the operation.
DW's Anchal Vohra looks at the role of Europe in the Strait of Hormuz.
https://p.dw.com/p/5DDZzSkip next section US transfers crew of seized Iranian ship to Pakistan05/04/2026May 4, 2026US transfers crew of seized Iranian ship to Pakistan
Islamabad on Monday confirmed that 22 crew members from an Iranian container ship seized by the US would be evacuated to Pakistan.
Pakistan's Foreign Ministry called it a "confidence-building measure" with support from both sides. The crew would then be returned to Iran, a statement read.
Read the full report on the transfer of the Iranian ship crew members to Pakistan.
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