US pivot to Asia; 'Project Freedom' resets war clock; Iran targets US warships, tanker - IRAN WAR NEWS - 4-May-2026 (update 2)

SPECIAL REPORT: Brian Berletic: What Connects US-Europe Stand Down, Access to Indonesian Airspace, & the US Blockade on Iran? - YouTube

May 3, 2026 Eurasia/Middle East

• The US is talking about drawing down US troops in Europe - not because a division between the US and Europe - but a division of labor imposed on Europe by the US;
• The US seeks access to Indonesian airspace specifically to begin threatening the Strait of Malacca in the same manner it has already done to the Strait of Hormuz - expanding its global energy blockade on China;
• The ongoing US blockade on Iran is not absolute as claimed by the US government, but also not non-existent as claimed by others. It is imposing costs on Iran and its trading partner China and compounding a growing energy crisis the US itself is eagerly exploiting across Asia;

SPECIAL REPORT: GVS Deep Dive: China Fires Back at US Sanctions - This Changes Everything - YouTube

China has just taken an unprecedented step by blocking U.S. sanctions on five of its "teapot" refineries accused of buying Iranian oil, and this move could have far-reaching consequences not just for energy markets, but for the global financial system itself.

In this video, we break down how the United States tried to cut off Iran's oil revenues by targeting Chinese buyers, why these independent refineries are critical to the global oil supply chain, and how China's refusal to comply exposes the limits of U.S. sanctions power in a rapidly changing geopolitical landscape.

With China purchasing over 80% of Iran's oil exports and relying heavily on Middle Eastern energy, this is no longer just about sanctions enforcement-it is about control over global trade, the future of the dollar system, and the emergence of parallel economic networks that operate outside Western influence.

We also explore what this means for the next phase of escalation, including the possibility of maritime enforcement and naval blockades in critical chokepoints like the Strait of Hormuz, and whether China could eventually move from economic resistance to strategic or even military contestation.

As tensions rise between the United States and China, and as the global oil market becomes increasingly fragmented, the question is no longer whether sanctions can be imposed-but whether they can actually be enforced in a world that is no longer unipolar.

UPDATE 2

US "Project Freedom" in Hormuz: An early failure amid Iranian fire - Yemen Press Agency

SANAA, May 05 (YPA) - Only hours after US President Donald Trump announced the launch of the so-called "Freedom Project" in the Strait of Hormuz earlier on Monday, the move collided with a field reality that proved its failure from the very first hours.

Data from the theater of operations indicates that the project-marketed as a humanitarian operation to secure navigation-has been transformed by a firm Iranian response into a high-risk military adventure, destined to be added to the United States' record of strategic failures in vital waterways.

Direct Confrontation and Hits to US Vessels

Field data confirms that the Iranian naval forces did not stop at warnings; they moved to direct engagement as soon as American attempts to approach were detected.

According to statements from the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, Iran countered the US movement with a "firm response," involving opening fire on several US naval vessels that attempted to violate the sovereign zone of the Strait. This resulted in direct hits to those vessels, forcing them to cease navigation and retreat.

Media Disinformation as a Cover for Failure

In a desperate attempt to bypass the field implications of this confrontation, the US administration resorted to promoting misleading narratives, claiming the successful passage of ships through the Strait and alleging clashes that led to the sinking of Iranian boats.

May 4: Iran repels US push at Strait of Hormuz, hits warships after they ignore warnings

Iran consolidated its unchallenged control and authority over the Strait of Hormuz on Monday amid a widening collapse of US regional strategy, pushing back decisively against Washington's latest military offensives.

Tehran rejected the Pentagon's assertion that several Iranian boats had been destroyed, noting that no commercial vessels or tankers had crossed the strait.

Iranian naval forces fired missiles and drones to warn off US warships attempting to approach the restricted zone, and two missiles later struck a US vessel that ignored repeated warnings.

The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) vowed to forcefully stop any vessel that defies Tehran's management rules for international transit.

The fallout stretched across the region, from the Fujairah port fire in the UAE to renewed anxiety in Persian Gulf capitals, underscoring that American adventurism is driving instability.

Key developments on day 66 of the war, the twenty-seventh day of the ceasefire:

• A senior Iranian military official rejected a claim by the United States military that it has sunk several Iranian boats as part of an attempt to open the Strait of Hormuz, the IRIB News reported. Head of CENTCOM Admiral Brad Cooper said earlier that the US military had destroyed six Iranian small boats and intercepted missiles and drones fired at US warships.
• A massive blaze at oil facilities in Fujairah Port in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) was a direct consequence of "American adventurism" in the strategic Strait of Hormuz, according to an IRIB report. Citing a senior military source, the report said the Iranian armed forces had no premeditated plan to attack the aforementioned oil facilities.
• No commercial vessels or oil tankers transited the Strait of Hormuz in the past several hours, the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) said, dismissing US claims as "baseless and outright false."
• The Iranian Navy fired missiles and drones to warn US warships approaching the Strait of Hormuz in an attempt to challenge Iran's control over the key waterway in the Persian Gulf.
• Two missiles struck a US Navy vessel near the strategic Strait of Hormuz after it ignored warnings from Iran's naval forces, according to Iranian media. The warship was moving in the vicinity of Jask port with the intention of transiting through the Strait of Hormuz, in breach of maritime security protocols.
• Major General Ali Abdollahi, commander of Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, warned that the Iranian Armed Forces will target any foreign forces, particularly from the US military, that attempt to approach or enter the strategic Strait of Hormuz.
• IRGC Spokesman Brigadier General Hossein Mohebbi said the Guards Navy has vowed to "forcefully stop" vessels attempting to defy the rules enforced by Iran regarding international transit through the strategic Strait of Hormuz.
• Fifteen crew members of the Iranian commercial vessel Touska, seized by the United States as part of Washington's illegal naval blockade against the Islamic Republic, returned home from Pakistan.
• Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei called on the Persian Gulf states to stop trying to borrow security from extra-regional powers, emphasising that the US military presence in the area serves only as a source of instability and endangers the very countries hosting those bases.
• The chairman of the Iranian parliament's national security and foreign policy commission, Ebrahim Azizi, quoted Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi as saying that the Islamic Republic is not currently engaged in negotiations with the enemy on the nuclear issue.
• Iran said the United States has not abandoned its pattern of excessive demands and endless greed, confirming the delivery of Washington's response to Tehran's proposed 14-point plan regarding mutual negotiations meant to end the war against the Islamic Republic.
• Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson said that US allies in the region are aware that the US-Israeli military aggression on Iran is not legal but rather a "unilateral step" that goes against international law.
• Iranian foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, and his Pakistani counterpart Mohammad Ishaq Dar discussed the recent US aggression and Pakistan's ongoing diplomatic efforts for "peace and stability in the region" in a phone call, Pakistan's foreign ministry said in a statement on social media.
• Iran's envoy to Germany, Majid Nili Ahmadabadi, dismissed German Chancellor Friedrich Merz's claim about Iran's peaceful nuclear program, saying that Berlin "must" instead clearly condemn the deadly US-Israeli assault on the Minab elementary school.
• Pro-resistance Handala hacktivists said they have successfully breached a US Navy database and obtained sensitive data on 400 marines.
• Hezbollah Secretary General, Sheikh Naim Qassem, said the Israeli regime's plots will never materialise as the resistance movement is resolutely fighting them off, dismissing illusions that Lebanon is a weak country and under the guardianship of others.
• Hezbollah said it carried out 11 fresh operations against Israeli targets, using drones, missiles, and artillery in a series of coordinated attacks.
• Lebanon's parliament speaker Nabih Berri stressed that no talks will take place with Israel until attacks being carried out by the occupying regime against the Arab country stop.

Hezbollah says it hit Israeli Merkava tank in south Lebanon | Middle East Eye

Hezbollah said it targeted an Israeli Merkava tank in Biyyada in southern Lebanon with a guided missile on Monday night, claiming a confirmed hit and reporting that the tank was seen burning.

UPDATE 1

Senate Republicans prepare Iran authorisation bill: Report | Middle East Eye

A small group of Senate Republicans is drafting an authorisation for the use of military force against Iran, positioning it for potential action if President Donald Trump resumes strikes on the Islamic Republic, according to a report by Semafor.

US lawmakers step up efforts to strip Trump of authority over Iran war - RT World News

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.

Trump Escalates Military Threats in Hormuz as Iran Prepares for New Round of U.S.-Israeli Bombings and Assassinations

President Donald Trump is scrambling to find a way to declare victory in the war against Iran-vacillating between public demands to make a deal and threats to unleash a new round of massive bombing. The U.S. naval blockade on the Strait of Hormuz has sparked a global economic and energy crisis, and neither the blockade nor Trump's threats have resulted in Iranian capitulation or a willingness to forfeit any of its rights to control maritime traffic in the Strait.

Iran Resumes Strikes Against UAE, Causes Losses (Videos)

The UAE sent out mobile phone alerts warning about potential missile threats throughout multiple emirates, including Dubai and the capital Abu Dhabi.

Ahead of the interceptions, the UAE said its air defense systems were responding to a missile threat, urging citizens to remain in "a safe location."

Later, authorities in Fujairah confirmed that a fire erupted at the Fujairah Oil Industries Zone (FOIZ) as a result of a drone strike originating from Iran.

No commercial ship or oil tanker transited Strait of Hormuz in past hours: IRGC

No commercial vessels or oil tankers have transited the Strait of Hormuz in the past several hours, the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) said Monday, dismissing recent US claims as "baseless and outright false."

Trump pleads with South Korea to join US mission to protect Gulf shipping | Middle East Eye

Trump said Washington is seeking broader international participation to bail the US from what has become another war of choice in the Middle East.

Germany positions navy for possible Strait of Hormuz deployment: Report | Middle East Eye

The German defence ministry said the minesweeper Fulda has departed from Kiel, while the support vessel Mosel, currently in the Aegean Sea, is being readied for possible redeployment in the Strait of Hormuz.

The government said any mission would require a sustained halt in fighting, a clear legal mandate and approval from parliament.

US says it destroyed Iranian boats, Iran denies naval losses | Middle East Eye

The US says its forces have destroyed six Iranian small boats and intercepted cruise missiles and drones during a new operation aimed at securing shipping routes through the Strait of Hormuz.

Iranian officials rejected the US account. State television quoted a military official denying that any Iranian boats had been sunk, directly contradicting the US claims.

US oil reserves are declining - Bloomberg

The publication wrote that the United States, in an effort to prevent a sharp rise in prices, is exporting oil in record volumes, and oil companies are working at the limit. In addition, strategic reserves were used, depleted to an average historical minimum.

According to the newspaper, the total reserves of crude oil and its refined products in the United States decreased by 52 million barrels in four weeks. However, the efforts of the American authorities are not enough to resolve the situation, as oil prices have already risen to $ 126 per barrel, which is the maximum value since 2022.

The article noted that this situation creates problems for the head of the White House, Donald Trump, on the eve of the midterm elections, as voters wonder why so much oil is being sold abroad when gasoline prices in the United States are rising rapidly.

Trump ditched plan to send Tomahawks to Germany - Merz - RT World News

Chancellor Friedrich Merz has confirmed that the US will not station Tomahawk long-range cruise missiles in Germany in the foreseeable future. He insisted that the suspension had nothing to do with his row with President Donald Trump but was rather caused by inadequate stockpiles.

Israel refuses to release Flotilla activists as world stays silent

Two activists from a Gaza-bound humanitarian aid flotilla are still in detention in the occupied territories and reportedly subjected to torture and mistreatment.

This comes after the regime illegally intercepted Global Sumud Flotilla vessels in international waters on Thursday. The governments of Italy, Greece and the EU have been slammed for inaction or complicity in supporting Israel's crimes.

IN OTHER NEWS...

US facing historic low birth rates - RT World News

According to vital statistics data published in April by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the birth rate in the United States has reached a new record low. In 2025, there were 53.1 births per 1,000 women of childbearing age (15-44) in the US, 1.3% lower than in 2024 and 23% lower than in 2007. The decline in birth rates reflects the impact of decades of social change that have undermined the institution of the American family.

END UPDATES

Iran war: What's happening on day 66 as Trump announces Hormuz mission? | US-Israel war on Iran News | Al Jazeera

United States President Donald Trump has announced a naval mission called Project Freedom to help navigate stranded ships through the Strait of Hormuz, which remains under a de facto Iranian blockade. The operation will start on Monday, the US president says.

[...]

Despite Trump's announcement, oil prices have failed to ease as the international benchmark Brent crude was essentially flat on Monday morning.

In response to Trump, top Iranian lawmaker Ebrahim Azizi said any US interference in the strait would be considered a violation of the ceasefire.

Here is what we know as the conflict enters day 66:

In Iran

• Responding to Trump's new naval operation, Iran's military said on Monday: "Any foreign armed force, especially the aggressive US Army, will be attacked if they attempt to approach and enter the Strait of Hormuz."
• On Sunday, Iran said it received a US response to its latest offer for peace talks after Trump called Tehran's proposal "unacceptable".
• Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said on Monday that US allies in the region are aware the US-Israeli war on Iran is not legal but rather a "unilateral step" that goes against international law.

Diplomacy

• Pakistani Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar and his Iranian counterpart, Abbas Araghchi, have discussed the "regional situation" and "Pakistan's ongoing diplomatic efforts for peace and stability in the region" in a phone call, Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement on social media..
• After Trump accused NATO allies of not doing enough to support the US in the war on Iran, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte said on Monday that European nations have "gotten the message" and are now ensuring that agreements on the use of military bases are being implemented.
• The leaders of Australia and Japan have agreed to step up cooperation on energy and critical minerals as the Iran war disrupts global trade.

In the US

• Talking about his latest mission for the Strait of Hormuz, Trump said the US would start helping to free ships stranded in the Gulf by the US-Israeli war on Iran. Trump gave few details of the plan to aid ships and their crews that have been "locked up" in the vital waterway and are running low on food and other supplies more than two months after the conflict began.
• The unified command of Iran's armed forces responded by warning US forces to stay out of the strait. Its forces would "respond harshly" to any threat, it added, telling commercial ships and oil tankers to refrain from any movement in the absence of coordination with Iran's military.
• The US has evacuated 22 crew members held on board an Iranian container vessel to Pakistan and will hand them over to Iranian authorities on Monday, Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said, calling the move a "confidence-building measure".
• The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) says the maritime security threat level in the Strait of Hormuz remains critical due to ongoing military operations.

In Lebanon

• Israel has attacked at least eight locations in southern Lebanon. Our colleagues at Al Jazeera Arabic are reporting Israel attacked Debaal, Qana, Srifa and Qalaouiyah as well as Zawtar al-Sharqiya, Toulin, Shehour and Braachit. The attacks came after the Israeli military ordered residents to flee from their homes.
• According to Lebanon's National News Agency (NNA), Israeli forces also dropped flares over Braachit overnight and shelled the outskirts of the towns of Safad El Battikh, Yater, Majdel Selm and Chaitiyeh.

Iran warns US to stay out of Hormuz after Trump says US will 'guide' ships | US-Israel war on Iran News | Al Jazeera

President Donald Trump says the US will begin 'Project Freedom' on Monday to guide stranded ships through Strait of Hormuz.

[...]

US forces will be attacked if they enter the strait, and commercial ships and oil tankers should refrain from moving unless they coordinate with Iran, Ali Abdollahi, the head of the Iranian military's unified command, said in a statement on Monday.

Two missiles hit US Navy vessel near Strait of Hormuz after it ignored Irans warning: Report

12bytes: It's unclear whether Iran struck the ship or fired warning shots.

Two missiles have struck a US Navy vessel near the strategic Strait of Hormuz after it ignored warnings from Iran's naval forces, according to a report.

Fars News Agency reported that the American warship was moving in the vicinity of Jask port on Monday with the intention of transiting through the Strait of Hormuz, in violation of maritime security protocols.

The vessel reportedly disregarded multiple warnings issued by the Islamic Republic of Iran's naval forces before being targeted.

According to the report, the US vessel suffered damage from the strikes, forcing it to abandon its course and retreat from the area.

Reuters: Senior Iranian official says Iran fired warning shot at US warship | Middle East Eye

A senior Iranian official told Reuters on Monday that Iran fired a "warning shot" toward a US Navy vessel to prevent its entry into the Strait of Hormuz, but it is unclear whether any damage was sustained.

Tanker Attacked Near Hormuz Hours Into Trump's 'Project Freedom' Plan

"This is a Humanitarian gesture," he said. "Many of these ships are running low on food, and everything else necessary for largescale crews to stay on board in a healthy and sanitary manner."

He added: "If, in any way, this humanitarian process is interfered with, that interference will, unfortunately, have to be dealt with forcefully."

The very next day, the Joint Maritime Information Center revealed that the U.S. has set up an "enhanced security area" south of typical shipping routes and urged mariners to coordinate closely with Omani authorities "due to anticipated high traffic volume."

The center warned that passing close to the usual routes, known as the traffic separation scheme, "should be considered extremely hazardous due to the presence of mines that have not been fully surveyed and mitigated."

Soon after, the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) announced it will be launching "Project Freedom" to restore freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.

The command said in a statement that the mission "will support merchant vessels seeking to freely transit through the essential international trade corridor."

[...]

Within an hour of CENTCOM announcement, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations reported that a tanker had been hit by unknown projectiles while transiting about 78 nautical miles north of the city of Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates. [...]

Following the attack, Iran's unified military command warned U.S. Navy warships against entering the Strait of Hormuz.

"We have repeatedly said the security of the Strait of Hormuz is in our hands and that the safe passage of vessels needs to be coordinated with the armed forces," the command said in a statement.

However, Axios reporter Barak Ravid said on X that U.S. Navy warships will be "in the vicinity" in the event they need to prevent Iran's military from attacking commercial ships moving through the Strait of Hormuz. This was also reported by The Wall Street Journal.

UAE condemns Iranian attack on Adnoc tanker transiting Hormuz | Middle East Eye

The United Arab Emirates has condemned Iran's attack on a tanker from the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (Adnoc) attempting to cross through the Strait of Hormuz, according to AFP.

Two drones were reported to have targeted the ship.

Most shipping blocked at Hormuz despite US assurances | Middle East Eye

There have been no signs of increased vessel traffic passing through the Strait of Hormuz on Monday after US President Donald Trump announced "Project Freedom" would begin efforts to restore navigation through the strait.

Japan PM: Hormuz closure 'inflicting enormous impact' on Asia Pacific | Energy | Al Jazeera

Speaking through a simultaneous translator, Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has told Australian reporters in Canberra that the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz is 'inflicting an 'enormous impact' on Asia Pacific. She said both countries are coordinating to alleviate the crisis.

Mossad-linked rioters convicted of murdering security forces executed in northeastern Iran 

Three men convicted of involvement in violent riots, deadly attacks on security forces, and affiliation with the Israeli Mossad spy agency have been executed in Iran's northeastern province of Khorasan Razavi.

Hezbollah hits Israeli targets in 11 drone, missile operations

The Lebanese resistance movement Hezbollah says it has carried out 11 operations against Israeli targets, utilizing drones, missiles, and artillery in a series of coordinated attacks.

Al-Quds Brigades detonate bomb targeting Israeli infantry south of Jenin - Yemen Press Agency

JENIN, May 04 (YPA) - The Jenin Battalion, affiliated with the Al-Quds Brigades, the military wing of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad movement, announced on Monday that it detonated an explosive device targeting an Israeli infantry unit during its raid on the town of Silat al-Dhahr, south of Jenin, claiming direct hits.

The group said the attack occurred as Israeli occupation forces stormed the town and carried out a series of arrests in the area.

Israel seizes nearly 60 percent of Gaza as it plans to resume war, report says | Middle East Eye

Israel has expanded its control of the Gaza Strip to nearly 60 percent of the territory despite the ceasefire, as it prepares for a possible resumption of the war, Army Radio reported on Sunday.

Zionist settlers attack Palestinian farmers near Ramallah, force them to leave their lands - Yemen Press Agency

Palestinian sources reported that the settlers, under the protection of the Israeli occupation army, attacked the farmers while they were plowing their land in the Turmus Ayya plain, forcing them to leave the area.

Study: over a third of Israeli university students consider suicide due to war - Middle East Monitor

An Israeli academic study involving more than 700 university students, most of whom have direct links to the war through military service, has found that more than one third have experienced suicidal thoughts.

The newspaper Israel Hayom reported that long periods of reserve duty in the Israeli army have "shaken" students' lives, due to separation from home and friends, exposure to difficult scenes on the battlefield, fear of injury, and a sense among reservists of being "forgotten".

IN OTHER NEWS...

Pentagon Seeks $7 Billion for Modernization of Alaskan Military Base

The US Air Force is requesting an initial tranche of $2.066 billion in the fiscal year 2027 to build a so-called fighter town at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska, according to Pentagon documents.