On May 4 (local time), British Prime Minister Keir Starmer condemned Iran's drone and missile attacks on the United Arab Emirates (UAE). He called on Tehran to participate in negotiations to prevent escalation and maintain a ceasefire in the Middle East, and affirmed that Britain supports the UAE and its partners in the Gulf region.
The developments occurred amid new fighting broke out in the Strait of Hormuz, where the US and Iran are deploying confrontational maritime blockades. Iran attacked many merchant ships, causing an UAE oil port in Fujairah to catch fire after airstrikes with missiles. Several other ships also recorded explosions, including oil tankers and cargo ships.
US President Donald Trump previously announced Operation "Project Freedom" to support stranded ships moving through this important sea route. The US said it had deployed naval forces and destroyed 6 Iranian small-sized military ships, although Tehran denied the information. Some US-flagged ships are believed to have crossed the strait with military support.
Iran warned that all maritime activities must coordinate with its forces, and declared that it would attack if there was a foreign military presence. Tehran also expanded its sea control, including the UAE coastal area.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said there is no military solution to the crisis and said peace talks are being promoted through Pakistan as an intermediary. However, efforts to resume dialogue have not yet made clear progress.
The new attacks are seen as a major escalation since the two sides announced a ceasefire earlier, increasing concerns about regional security and impacting the global energy market.
