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Shippers Warned to Stay Away from Iranian Waters over Seizure Threat as US-Iran Tensions High

In this image obtained from the US Department of Defense, the amphibious assault ship USS Bataan transits through the Suez Canal, Egypt, on August 6, 2023. (AFP / US Department of Defense / US Navy Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Moises Sandoval)
In this image obtained from the US Department of Defense, the amphibious assault ship USS Bataan transits through the Suez Canal, Egypt, on August 6, 2023. (AFP / US Department of Defense / US Navy Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Moises Sandoval)
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Shippers Warned to Stay Away from Iranian Waters over Seizure Threat as US-Iran Tensions High

In this image obtained from the US Department of Defense, the amphibious assault ship USS Bataan transits through the Suez Canal, Egypt, on August 6, 2023. (AFP / US Department of Defense / US Navy Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Moises Sandoval)
In this image obtained from the US Department of Defense, the amphibious assault ship USS Bataan transits through the Suez Canal, Egypt, on August 6, 2023. (AFP / US Department of Defense / US Navy Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Moises Sandoval)

Western-backed maritime forces in the Middle East on Saturday warned shippers traveling through the strategic Strait of Hormuz to stay as far away from Iranian territorial waters as possible to avoid being seized, a stark advisory amid heightened tensions between Iran and the US.

A similar warning went out to shippers earlier this year ahead of Iran seizing two tankers traveling near the strait, the narrow mouth of the Arabian Gulf through which 20% of the world's oil passes.

While Iran and the US now near an apparent deal that would see billions of Iranian assets held in South Korea unfrozen in exchange for the release of five Iranian-Americans detained in Tehran, the warning shows that the tensions remain high at sea. Already, the US is exploring plans to put armed troops on commercial ships in the strait to deter Iran amid a buildup of troops, ships and aircraft in the region.

US Navy Cmdr. Timothy Hawkins, a spokesman for the Mideast-based 5th Fleet, acknowledged the warning had been given, but declined to discuss specifics about it.

A US-backed maritime group called the International Maritime Security Construct “is notifying regional mariners of appropriate precautions to minimize the risk of seizure based on current regional tensions, which we seek to de-escalate,” Hawkins said. “Vessels are being advised to transit as far away from Iranian territorial waters as possible.”

Separately, a European Union-led maritime organization watching shipping in the strait “have warned of a possibility of an attack on a merchant vessel of unknown flag in the Strait of Hormuz in the next 12 to 72 hours,” said private intelligence firm Ambrey.

“Previously, after a similar warning was issued, a merchant vessel was seized by Iranian authorities under a false pretext,” the firm warned.

The EU-led mission, called the European Maritime Awareness in the Strait of Hormuz, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Iran through its state media did not acknowledge any new plans to interdict vessels in the strait. Iran's mission to the United Nations did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

There has been a wave of attacks on ships attributed to Iran since 2019, following the Trump administration unilaterally withdrawing America from the 2015 Iran nuclear deal and re-imposing crushing sanctions on Tehran.

Those assaults resumed in late April, when Iran seized a ship carrying oil for Chevron Corp. and another tanker called the Niovi in May.

The taking of the two tankers in under a week comes as the Marshall Island-flagged Suez Rajan sits off Houston, likely waiting to offload sanctioned Iranian oil apparently seized by the US.

Those seizures led the US military to launch a major deployment in the region, including thousands of Marines and sailors on both the amphibious assault ship USS Bataan and the USS Carter Hall, a landing ship. Images released by the Navy showed the Bataan and Carter Hall in the Red Sea on Tuesday.

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World

US Attempt to Open Strait of Hormuz Tests Fragile Iran War Ceasefire

In this picture obtained from Iran's ISNA news agency and taken on May 2, 2026, the Iran-flagged container vessel Hamouna is pictured while anchored as a small motorboat passes by, in the Strait of Hormuz off Bandar Abbas in southern Iran. (ISNA/AFP)
In this picture obtained from Iran's ISNA news agency and taken on May 2, 2026, the Iran-flagged container vessel Hamouna is pictured while anchored as a small motorboat passes by, in the Strait of Hormuz off Bandar Abbas in southern Iran. (ISNA/AFP)
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US Attempt to Open Strait of Hormuz Tests Fragile Iran War Ceasefire

In this picture obtained from Iran's ISNA news agency and taken on May 2, 2026, the Iran-flagged container vessel Hamouna is pictured while anchored as a small motorboat passes by, in the Strait of Hormuz off Bandar Abbas in southern Iran. (ISNA/AFP)
In this picture obtained from Iran's ISNA news agency and taken on May 2, 2026, the Iran-flagged container vessel Hamouna is pictured while anchored as a small motorboat passes by, in the Strait of Hormuz off Bandar Abbas in southern Iran. (ISNA/AFP)

The Iran war risked reigniting after the US tried to force open the Strait of Hormuz for commercial shipping, though a ceasefire seemed to be holding Tuesday even after the United Arab Emirates said Iran fired missiles and drones at it.

It is unclear what will follow after an American attempt to end Iran’s stranglehold on the strait by creating an “enhanced security area." A prominent Iranian official accused the US of undermining regional security with the effort and warned that Iran will respond.

The US military said two American-flagged merchant ships successfully transited the strait on Monday, and that it fired on Iranian forces, sinking six small boats that were targeting vessels. It remained to be seen if any more ships would cross on Tuesday.

Ship tracking data showed a Panamanian-flagged crude oil tanker heading toward the center of the strait Tuesday morning after leaving an anchorage in the Gulf, though it was unclear if it would try to pass through. The tanker had a stated destination of Singapore, according to the MarineTraffic ship tracking site.

Iran’s effective closure of the strait, through which about a fifth of the world’s trade in oil and natural gas typically passes, along with fertilizer and other petroleum-derived products, has sent fuel prices skyrocketing, rattled the global economy, and proved a major strategic advantage in negotiations to end the war. Breaking that chokehold would ease global economic concerns and deny Tehran a major source of leverage.

But such efforts also risk reigniting the full-scale fighting that erupted when the US and Israel first attacked Iran on Feb. 28, prompting it to close the strait.

Iran accuses US of ceasefire violation

Iran has said the new US effort is a violation of the fragile ceasefire that has held for more than three weeks.

In a post on X Tuesday, Iran’s powerful parliamentary speaker and chief negotiator, Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, accused Washington of undermining shipping security in the Strait of Hormuz.

Qalibaf warned that a “new equation” in the strait is taking shape. He signaled that Tehran has yet to fully respond to the US attempt to reopen the waterway, saying: “We know full well that the continuation of the status quo is intolerable for America; while we have not even begun yet.”

Trump vows to reopen the strait

US President Donald Trump on Sunday warned that Iranian efforts to halt passage through the strait “will, unfortunately, have to be dealt with forcefully.” He said the US effort to reopen the strait, dubbed “Project Freedom,” was intended to aid stranded seafarers on hundreds of ships stuck in the Gulf since the war began.

The US-led Joint Maritime Information Center advised ships on Monday to cross the strait in Oman’s waters, saying it had set up an “enhanced security area.”

The UAE bore the brunt of Iran’s retaliation

The United Arab Emirates' Defense Ministry said its air defenses had engaged 15 missiles and four drones fired by Iran. Authorities in the eastern emirate of Fujairah said one drone sparked a fire at a key oil facility, wounding three Indian nationals.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday condemned the attacks, saying the targeting of civilians and infrastructure was “unacceptable.”

In a statement on X, Modi said India stands in “firm solidarity” with the UAE and stressed the need for safe and uninterrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, saying it “is vital for enduring regional peace, stability and global energy security.”

Tehran did not confirm or deny the attacks but 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.”

Pakistan, which has been mediating between the US and Iran, and Saudi Arabia both condemned the strikes against the UAE.

Strait of Hormuz closure has far-reaching consequences

The disruption of the waterway has squeezed countries in Europe and Asia that depend on Gulf oil and gas, raising prices far beyond the region.

The US has meanwhile enforced a naval blockade on Iranian ports since April 13, telling at least 49 commercial ships to turn back, according to Central Command. It's also warned shipping companies they could face sanctions if they pay Iran for transit of the strait.

The blockade has deprived Tehran of oil revenue it needs to shore up its ailing economy. US officials have expressed hope the blockade will force Iran to make concessions in talks on its disputed nuclear program and other longstanding issues.

Negotiations make little progress

Iran’s latest proposal for ending the war calls for the US to lift sanctions, end the blockade, withdraw forces from the region, and cease all hostilities including Israel’s operations in Lebanon, according to the semiofficial Nour News and Tasnim agencies, which have close ties to Iran’s security apparatus.

Iranian officials said they were reviewing the US response. Tehran has claimed its proposal does not include its nuclear program and enriched uranium, long a driving force in tensions with the US and Israel.

Iran wants other issues resolved within 30 days and aims to end the war rather than extend the ceasefire. Trump expressed doubt over the weekend that the proposal would lead to a deal.

World

IAEA Says Drone Damaged Equipment at Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Plant in Ukraine

The interior of the damaged flat in an apartment building hit by a Russian drone strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine February 26, 2026. (Reuters)
The interior of the damaged flat in an apartment building hit by a Russian drone strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine February 26, 2026. (Reuters)
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IAEA Says Drone Damaged Equipment at Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Plant in Ukraine

The interior of the damaged flat in an apartment building hit by a Russian drone strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine February 26, 2026. (Reuters)
The interior of the damaged flat in an apartment building hit by a Russian drone strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine February 26, 2026. (Reuters)

The International Atomic Energy Agency said on Monday meteorological monitoring equipment at the Russian-held Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in southeastern Ukraine had been damaged by a drone.

The Zaporizhzhia plant, Europe's largest with six reactors, was seized by Russian forces in the early weeks of Moscow's February 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Each side has since regularly accused the other of military action which could compromise safety at ‌the plant, ‌located near the war's front ‌line.

Posting ⁠on X, the ⁠IAEA said a team of its experts had visited the station's External Radiation Control Laboratory (ERCL), a day after the plant's Russian management said it had been hit by a drone.

"Team observed damage to some of the lab's meteorological monitoring equipment ⁠which is no longer operational," the ‌IAEA, the UN's nuclear ‌watchdog, said in its statement.

The statement said IAEA Director ‌General Rafael Grossi had issued a fresh appeal "for ‌maximum military restraint near all nuclear facilities to avoid safety risks".

The plant, which now produces no electricity, has been struck several times by drones since the ‌beginning of the conflict. The plant's management on Sunday said damage has been minor ⁠and that ⁠operations were otherwise unaffected.

One of the station's external power lines - required to keep nuclear fuel cool - has been down since late March and the IAEA said last week it was trying to arrange a local ceasefire to carry out repair work.

Grossi has paid several visits to the Zaporizhzhia plant since it came under Russian control and the IAEA has placed observers permanently at Zaporizhzhia and Ukraine's three other functioning nuclear stations.

World

China Fireworks Factory Explosion Kills Tens, Injures 61

Image from the explosion site (Chinese media)
Image from the explosion site (Chinese media)
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China Fireworks Factory Explosion Kills Tens, Injures 61

Image from the explosion site (Chinese media)
Image from the explosion site (Chinese media)

The death toll from a giant explosion at a fireworks factory in central China rose to 26, with 61 more injured, officials said Tuesday.

The explosion occurred at around 4:43 pm on Monday at the Liuyang Huasheng Fireworks Manufacturing and Display Company in Liuyang, Hunan province, state broadcaster CCTV reported.

Following the blast, all fireworks makers in Hunan's provincial capital Changsha, which administers Liuyang, had been ordered to stop production ahead of safety inspections, CCTV said.

Videos on social media from Monday showed continuous explosions accompanied by a vast cloud of smoke rising high into the air in a rural area surrounded by mountains, said AFP.

Drone footage from CCTV taken a day later showed a swathe of smoldering debris where buildings had stood, with rescue workers and excavators scouring the rubble.

Smoke continued to rise from some buildings left standing, many of them with their roofs blown off.

Changsha mayor Chen Bozhang told a news conference on Tuesday afternoon that another five people had died since earlier reports that 21 were killed.

"We feel deeply grieved and filled with remorse," Chen said, adding that search and rescue work was "basically complete".

The central government had sent experts to guide rescue efforts, while more than 480 rescuers had been urgently dispatched to the site, according to CCTV.

They had established a 3-kilometer (1.9-mile) control zone around the site and evacuated people nearby.

Police had apprehended the company's management while investigations into the cause of the accident continue, CCTV said.

President Xi Jinping had called for "all-out efforts" to treat the injured, search for missing persons, and for those responsible to be held accountable, state news agency Xinhua reported.

Liuyang is a major fireworks hub, producing around 60 percent of the fireworks sold in China and 70 percent of those exported.

Industrial accidents, including in the fireworks industry, are common in China due to lax safety standards.

Last year, an explosion at another fireworks factory in Hunan killed nine people, and in 2023, three people were killed after blasts struck residential buildings in the northern city of Tianjin.

In February, separate explosions at fireworks shops in Hubei and Jiangsu provinces killed 12 and eight people.