A fragile ceasefire in the war involving Iran showed fresh signs of strain after the United Arab Emirates reported being hit by a missile and drone attack, coming hours after the United States said it had stopped assaults on three Navy ships in the Strait of Hormuz and struck Iranian military sites in reprisal.
The flare-up threatens a tenuous truce between Washington and Tehran just as mediators explore terms to end the conflict. Tehran said it was still reviewing new US proposals relayed by Pakistan, which has been brokering talks, but an Iranian foreign ministry spokesman said no formal response had yet been given.
The Trump administration has alternated between declarations that hostilities were over and renewed threats of force if Iran does not accept a deal to resume oil and gas shipments disrupted by the fighting. After Thursday’s exchange of fire, President Donald Trump warned reporters that Iran would face “a lot of pain” if an agreement is not signed, saying a deal “could happen any day” but also acknowledging it “might not happen.”
The ceasefire, in place since April 8, has largely held despite periodic incidents. Face-to-face talks hosted by Pakistan last month failed to produce an end to the war that began on Feb. 28 when the United States and Israel carried out strikes against Iran.
UAE and US military accounts
The UAE’s defence ministry urged residents to avoid and not disturb any debris from interceptions, after the country reported incoming missiles and drones. Earlier, US Central Command said American forces intercepted what it called ‘‘unprovoked Iranian attacks’’ on three Navy ships in the Strait of Hormuz and conducted self-defence strikes against Iranian military facilities it identified as responsible for the assaults. The US said none of its ships were struck and insisted it was not seeking escalation, while remaining prepared to protect American forces.
Diplomatic efforts
Pakistan has remained active as a mediator. Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar spoke by phone with Iran’s Abbas Araghchi, and Pakistani officials said they expect an agreement “sooner rather than later,” while declining to give a timeline. Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said Islamabad was in continuous contact with both sides to stop the fighting and extend the ceasefire.
Separately, US officials said direct, closed-door talks between Israel and Lebanon are scheduled to resume in Washington on May 14–15.
Iran’s control of the Strait of Hormuz
Adding another layer of concern, maritime data firm Lloyd’s List Intelligence reported that Iran has established a new government body — dubbed the Persian Gulf Strait Authority — to vet and collect fees from vessels seeking passage through the Strait of Hormuz. The move formalises a system Tehran has used during the conflict to permit or tax transits and appears aimed at asserting tighter control over a waterway that is vital for global shipments of oil, gas and other petroleum products.
The development has left hundreds of commercial vessels effectively bottled up in the Persian Gulf and raised fresh worries about freedom of navigation. Maritime law experts cited by analysts say Iran’s attempts to vet or tax transiting ships contravene the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, which requires states to allow peaceful passage through territorial waters.
International response
The United States and Gulf partners have pushed for UN Security Council backing for a resolution condemning Iran’s restrictions on the strait and threatening sanctions. A previous resolution calling for the reopening of the waterway was blocked by vetoes from Russia and China.
Markets have been sensitive to the developments: while the potential for a negotiated end to the conflict has supported some optimism in international markets, the disruptions to shipping and the prospect of renewed military action have kept energy prices and global economic concerns elevated.
Outcomes remain uncertain: both military incidents and diplomatic shuttle efforts continue, with mediators pressing for a durable settlement even as each exchange of fire risks unravelling the fragile truce.
