On May 5, the US military said it had destroyed 6 Iranian small ships, along with cruise missiles and drones, in the context of US President Donald Trump deploying a ship escort operation called "Project Freedom" to bring stranded ships through this important sea route.
Meanwhile, Mr. Mohammad Baqer Galibaf, Speaker of the Iranian Parliament, accused the US and its allies of violating the 4-week ceasefire, disrupting transportation and energy security.
The Strait of Hormuz, the lifeline of global oil, fertilizer and commodity supplies, has been almost closed since the US and Israel launched attacks on Iran on February 28, leading to rising prices worldwide.
Many commercial ships in the Gulf reported explosions or fires. A oil port in the United Arab Emirates was attacked by Iranian missiles, causing fire. Iran claimed control of a large area at sea, extending beyond the Strait of Hormuz, while the Islamic Revolutionary Guards used mines, UAVs and armed ships to restrict traffic. The US responded by blockading Iranian ports.
The two sides provided conflicting information about the actual situation. The US said 2 US merchant ships passed through the strait with the support of the navy, while Iran denied it. A South Korean ship encountered a fire and explosion incident but there were no casualties. The UK Maritime Security Agency recorded 2 ships attacked off the UAE coast. ADNOC, the UAE National Oil Corporation, also said that an empty oil tanker was hit by an Iranian UAV.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said there is no military solution to the crisis, saying negotiations are still ongoing with Pakistan's mediating role. Although there has been a round of direct dialogue, further efforts have not made progress.
Oil prices fluctuate sharply, reflecting the impact of prolonged conflicts that have caused great casualties and shaken the global economy.
