U.S. and Iran Escalate Military Tensions in the Strait of Hormuz

Tue, 05 May 2026 08:34:00 +0200

On May 4, 2026, tensions between the United States and Iran escalated in the Gulf as both countries engaged in military actions around the Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint for global energy trade. The confrontations included missile and drone attacks, destruction of small Iranian military boats by the U.S., and damage to an oil port in the UAE caused by Iranian missiles. This followed President Donald Trump's announcement of 'Project Freedom,' an initiative aimed at ensuring the safe passage of merchant ships through the strait, which has been largely closed due to ongoing hostilities since February. Despite some U.S. merchant ships reportedly crossing the strait with naval support, Iran denied any recent crossings and warned that foreign military forces entering the area would be targeted. The conflict has disrupted shipping, caused explosions and fires on several merchant vessels, and pushed oil prices higher. Iranian officials emphasized that military solutions are insufficie