US says ceasefire with Iran is holding despite attacks in the Strait of Hormuz and against the UAE – Image for illustrative purposes only (Image credits: upload.wikimedia.org)
Dubai, United Arab Emirates — American military officials maintained that a ceasefire with Iran remained intact following fresh attacks blamed on Tehran in the Strait of Hormuz and against a key U.S. ally. The United Arab Emirates reported additional Iranian drone and missile strikes on Tuesday, testing the nearly month-old truce. Efforts to restore traffic through the vital waterway continued, even as global shippers expressed deep reservations about the risks involved.
Military Leaders Downplay Escalation
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, addressed reporters on Tuesday. They described the day’s events in the strait as quieter compared to prior incidents. Hegseth firmly stated, “No, the ceasefire is not over,” aligning with Caine’s view that Iran’s actions fell short of major combat operations.
The assessment came before reports of new strikes on the UAE surfaced. Caine noted that over 100 U.S. aircraft patrolled the skies near the strait. U.S. forces had cleared a passage on Monday, sinking six small Iranian boats deemed threats to commercial shipping. Iran countered that two civilian cargo vessels suffered hits, resulting in five civilian deaths, according to state television.
Slow Reopening Meets Shipping Caution
Only two U.S.-flagged merchant ships navigated the newly opened U.S.-protected lane through the strait so far. One, operated by Maersk, exited safely with military aid on Monday. Hundreds of vessels lingered in the Persian Gulf, held back by persistent dangers.
The waterway spans just 21 miles wide, leaving little margin for error. Iran possesses cruise missiles, drones, fast attack craft, and mines capable of striking throughout the area. Hapag-Lloyd, a major container firm, kept its risk assessment unchanged and halted transits. Torbjorn Soltvedt, a Middle East analyst at Verisk Maplecroft, observed that shipping and insurance firms needed more time to gauge the situation’s stability.
UAE Targeted in Apparent Retaliation
The UAE disclosed that its defenses intercepted 15 missiles and four drones from Iran on Monday. A drone ignited a fire at an oil facility in Fujairah, injuring three Indian nationals. British forces spotted two cargo ships ablaze offshore that day.
Tuesday brought another wave of Iranian drones and missiles, prompting a response from the UAE Defense Ministry. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi labeled the strikes on civilians and infrastructure unacceptable. Pakistan and Saudi Arabia issued condemnations as well. Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi warned on X that the U.S. and UAE risked a quagmire.
What matters now: Iran’s parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf indicated Tehran had yet to fully reply to U.S. moves. “We know full well that the continuation of the status quo is intolerable for America; while we have not even begun yet,” he posted on X.
Global Stakes in the Strait’s Blockade
Iran’s control over the Strait of Hormuz disrupted oil, gas, fertilizer, and petroleum flows, driving up fuel prices worldwide. Europe and Asia felt the pinch most acutely from the cutoff. A U.S. naval blockade on Iranian ports, in place since April 13, aimed to cut Tehran’s oil revenue and pressure nuclear talks.
The Trump administration invoked the April 8 ceasefire to sidestep a War Powers Resolution update to Congress. Shipping firms faced sanctions warnings for paying Iran transit fees. The U.S. route skirted Omani waters to the south, bypassing Iran’s northern path that required Revolutionary Guard approval.
Restoring full access could erode Iran’s leverage as President Trump pushes for nuclear concessions. Yet former officers familiar with the strait highlighted the operation’s hazards, even under escort. For now, the truce endured, but each incident underscored its fragility.