US–Iran strikes escalate Strait of Hormuz tensions; UAE returns to remote learning

Japan has taken delivery of its first stockpile of oil from Russia since global supplies were choked off by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz at the start of the Iran war, reports said.

A tanker carrying crude that was produced as part of a Sakhalin-2 natural gas development project reached the coast of Imabari in western Japan on Monday, TV Tokyo, the Asahi Shimbun daily and other media said Monday, citing unnamed officials of wholesaler Taiyo Oil.

Taiyo Oil received a request from the economy ministry to take in the petroleum, the reports said.

The crude is expected to be sent to a refinery, where it will be turned into gasoline, naphtha - used to make various products from plastics, chemical fibers to paints - and other petroleum products, the reports said.

Officials of the company could not immediately be reached to confirm the report.

A probe will determine cause as crew confirmed safe amid regional shipping disruption

A South Korean-operated vessel that caught fire following an explosion in the Strait of Hormuz on Monday will be towed to a nearby port for inspection and repairs, Seoul’s foreign ministry said.

Authorities said a formal investigation will be carried out to determine the exact cause of the incident once the vessel reaches port.

The ship had 24 crew members on board, including six South Koreans, with no casualties reported.

Officials also noted that 26 South Korea-related vessels have been stranded in the Strait since the outbreak of conflict in the Middle East, underscoring growing disruption to regional shipping routes.

Iranian state media has reported that a US military operation in the Strait of Hormuz resulted in the deaths of five civilians, disputing US claims that the targeted boats were linked to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

According to the Tasnim news agency, Iranian authorities said an investigation found that the vessels struck were civilian cargo boats carrying goods and passengers, travelling from Khasab in Oman towards the Iranian coast.

A military official was quoted as saying US forces “attacked and fired upon two small cargo boats” and that the operation reflected “fear” of Iran’s fast-boat capabilities in the region.

The allegations have not been verified, and there has been no immediate response from US authorities regarding the Iranian claims.

The UAE Ministry of Education has announced a nationwide shift to distance learning from Tuesday, May 5, to Friday, May 8, 2026, covering students, teachers, and administrative staff across all nurseries and public and private schools. The measure has been taken to ensure the safety and wellbeing of the educational community amid the ongoing security situation, with authorities set to review the decision on Friday and noting the period may be extended if necessary.

The United States has deployed warships and military aircraft across the Middle East as part of an expanded operation enforcing a naval blockade against Iran and ensuring the continued flow of commercial traffic through the Strait of Hormuz.

The mission, known as Project Freedom, includes more than 100 land- and sea-based aircraft, among them US Air Force F-16 fighter jets, operating alongside naval forces in the region.

US officials said the deployment is aimed at protecting American forces and safeguarding commercial shipping routes amid rising tensions in the Gulf. The operation is focused on maintaining maritime security and supporting the movement of vessels through one of the world’s most critical energy corridors.

Early on Tuesday, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on X that both the US and the UAE “should be wary of being dragged back into quagmire.”

In similarly vague terms, Iranian state television earlier quoted an anonymous military official as saying Tehran had had “no plan” to target the UAE or one of its oil fields.

“The incident resulted from US military adventurism to create an illegal passage,” the official was quoted as saying about the oil facility attack, apparently referring to Trump’s latest efforts to reopen the strait, a critical waterway for global energy.

Level 3 advisory stays as authorities issue nationwide warnings. The US Department of State has advised citizens to reconsider travel to the UAE following mobile alerts warning of potential aerial threats issued by the UAE Ministry of Interior.

The US maintains a Level 3 travel advisory, urging heightened caution. The US Mission to the UAE said it is monitoring the situation closely and advised Americans to follow local safety instructions, including shelter guidance if needed.

The US Embassy Abu Dhabi and US Consulate General Dubai remain open under ordered-departure status, with non-essential staff relocated. Routine visa services are suspended.

Residents are urged to stay alert, monitor official updates, and keep emergency supplies ready as the situation continues to evolve.

Paris: French President Emmanuel Macron has condemned Iran’s strikes on the UAE, describing them as “unjustified and unacceptable” and pledging continued French support for the UAE and regional allies.

“As it has done since the start of the conflict, France will continue to support its allies in the Emirates and in the region for the defence of their territory,” Macron said in a post on X.

Shipping company Maersk said one of its US-flagged commercial vessels has successfully exited the Strait of Hormuz under a US military escort. The news came after the US Navy reportedly hit Iranian fast boats amid reports of IRGC attacks on a UAE oil facility.

Benchmark Brent crude futures surged early Tuesday, jumping 5.8% to $114.44 a barrel — up $6.27 — as concerns over supply pressures reverberated across global markets. Murban crude also climbed, gaining 3.4% to $107.30 by about 7:35 a.m. in Tokyo.

US President Donald Trump’s rhetoric to “blow off the face of the Earth” any Iranian vessel targeting the US military in Hormuz Strait or the broader Arabian peninsula underscores how high the stakes are around freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz. Amid reports that the US Navy has blown up 6 small IRGC boats and the renewed Iranian regime attacks on the UAE, the "double blockade" has hardened: Iran is unable to move millions of barrels of their oil due to the US naval blockade — and Iran's threat over Hormuz choking seaborne trade through the narrow passage for the rest of the world.

It remains uncertain whether the fragile ceasefire between the US and Iran will hold, especially after President Donald Trump warned that Iranian forces will be “blown off the face of the Earth” if they attempt to target US ships in the Strait of Hormuz or the broader Arabian Gulf.

The statement comes amid renewed clashes in the strategic waterway, where both sides have exchanged fire. On Monday, US forces destroyed six Iranian small boats and intercepted Iranian cruise missiles and drones fired by Tehran as the regime seeks to thwart US naval effort ​to open shipping through Hormuz.

The US Central Command launched "Project Freedom" on Monday as Trump seeks to wrest control of the critical waterway from Iran.

The Sharjah Private Education Authority has announced a temporary shift to distance learning across all educational institutions in the emirate, including private schools and nurseries.

The measure will take effect from Tuesday, 5 May 2026, until Thursday, 7 May 2026, and applies to all students as well as administrative and teaching staff.

Day 66: UAE intercepts 12 ballistic missiles, 3 cruise missiles and 4 drones from Iran

Day 65: Iran says US options are 'impossible' war or 'bad deal'

Day 64: Iran tightens grip on Hormuz waters under new IRGC rules

Day 63: Trump says 'not satisfied' with new Iran proposal

Day 62: Iran's supreme leader says, 'US suffered disgraceful defeat'

Day 61: Iran's Ghalibaf mocks Trump's blockade

Day 60: Blockade: US Marines board ship near Hormuz