Iran live updates: UKMTO reports attacks on 2 ships in Strait of Hormuz

DAVID BRENNANMon, May 4, 2026 at 5:28 AM UTC

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President Donald Trump announced "major combat operations" against Iran on Feb. 28, with massive joint U.S.-Israeli strikes targeting military, government and infrastructure sites.

Following the announcement of a two-week ceasefire, initial U.S.-Iran talks in Pakistan in April failed to reach a peace deal.

Trump later announced the open-ended extension of the ceasefire and the continuation of a U.S. blockade until negotiations are concluded "one way or the other."

Latest Developments

May 4, 1:28 AM'Project Freedom' to extend defensive umbrella over shipping, official says

U.S. Central Command posted a statement to X on Sunday confirming that its forces will begin supporting "Project Freedom" in the Strait of Hormuz at the direction of President Donald Trump, beginning on Monday."Our support for this defensive mission is essential to regional security and the global economy as we also maintain the naval blockade," Adm. Brad Cooper, CENTCOM commander, said in the statement.The mission is intended "to restore freedom of navigation for commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz," CENTCOM said.The U.S. military role will be to extend a U.S. defensive umbrella over ships seeking to leave or enter the Strait of Hormuz, a U.S. official told ABC News. Project Freedom is not about providing escorts to ships, the official said."U.S. military support to Project Freedom will include guided-missile destroyers, over 100 land and sea-based aircraft, multi-domain unmanned platforms and 15,000 service members," CENTCOM said in its statement.

Sgt. 1st Class Michael Hunnisett/U.S. Central Command Public Affairs - PHOTO: U.S. Forces Start Mine Clearance Mission in Strait of Hormuz

-ABC News' Lauren Minore and Luis Martinez

May 4, 1:05 AMUKMTO reports attacks on 2 ships in Strait of Hormuz

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) Centre reported attacks on two cargo vessels in the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday, as the U.S. Navy prepared to begin "Project Freedom" to restore shipping through the strategic waterway on Monday.The first incident occurred 11 nautical miles west of Sirik, Iran, the UKMTO said, with a northbound bulk carrier reporting an attack by multiple small craft. All crew were reported safe and no environmental impact was reported.Some hours later, the UKMTO said it received a report of another incident 78 nautical miles north of the Emirati port of Fujairah. A tanker reported being hit by unknown projectiles, the UKMTO said, with all crew reported safe and no environmental impact.

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Fatima Shbair/AP - PHOTO: Cargo ships are seen at sea near the Strait of Hormuz, as viewed from Khor Fakkan, United Arab Emirates, on May 1, 2026.

-ABC News' Will Gretsky

May 3, 9:03 PMFirst to ABC: Iranian ship and crew seized by US transferred to Pakistan

The Iranian ship that was seized by the U.S. after it tried to run the U.S. blockade has been transferred to Pakistan for repatriation to Iran, along with its crew, a spokesman for U.S. Central Command told ABC News. "Today, U.S. forces completed the transfer of 22 crew members of M/V Touska to Pakistan for repatriation," Captain Tim Hawkins said. "Six other passengers were already transferred to a regional country for repatriation last week." Iran state media identified the six as family members of some of the crew. "Custody of Touska is currently being transferred back to its original ownership after the ship was intercepted and seized when attempting to violate the U.S. naval blockade against Iran last month," Hawkins said. When the crew of the Touska ignored six hours’ worth of warnings from U.S. ships on April 19, a destroyer fired several rounds at the container ship's engine room, Gen. Dan Caine, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said at a Pentagon news conference on April 24. The ship was later boarded by U.S. Marines, who seized the ship. -ABC News' Luis Martinez

May 3, 6:45 PMTrump says US will guide ships of countries not involved in war out of strait

President Donald Trump announced on Sunday that he's ordered U.S. personnel to safely guide ships and crews from countries that are not involved with the Iran war out of Strait of Hormuz, which is currently subject to a naval blockade.This "humanitarian gesture," which Trump called "Project Freedom," will begin Monday morning "Middle East time," he wrote.

Stringer via Reuters - PHOTO: Ships and boats in the Strait of Hormuz, Musandam, Oman, May 1, 2026.

"The Ship movement is merely meant to free up people, companies, and Countries that have done absolutely nothing wrong -- They are victims of circumstance," the president wrote. "This is a Humanitarian gesture on behalf of the United States, Middle Eastern Countries but, in particular, the Country of Iran."Trump claimed that his "representatives" were having "very positive discussions" with Iranian leadership, despite the fact that he said earlier Sunday that he reviewed their most recent peace proposal and that it is "not acceptable."He said these discussions "could lead to something very positive for all" but warned that if Iran interferes with these safety efforts, they will "have to be dealt with forcefully."-ABC News' Isabella Murray

May 3, 8:01 AMTrump must choose between 'impossible' war or 'bad deal,' IRGC says

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps issued a statement via the state-run Press TV claiming that the U.S.' room for decision-making "has narrowed" amid the ongoing negotiating stalemate.In its statement, the IRGC claimed that Tehran has set the Pentagon a deadline to lift its blockade of Iranian ports. It also claimed that the global tone of conversation on the conflict has shifted "against Washington," citing critical statements on the war from China, Russia and Europe.President Donald Trump, the IRGC said, must choose between "an impossible military operation or a bad deal" with Iran.

Majid Asgaripour/via Reuters - PHOTO: A man holds an Iranian flag near an anti-U.S. billboard in Tehran, Iran, on May 2, 2026.

-ABC News' Dragana Jovanovic

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Source: “AOL Breaking”