US says Iran ceasefire still stands as Caine cites nine attacks on commercial vessels
Iran has fired at commercial vessels nine times and seized two container ships since a ceasefire took hold, Gen. Dan Caine, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said, even as U.S. officials insisted the truce remains in effect, Deutsche Welle reported. [1]
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said May 5, 2026, that the ceasefire with Iran was still in place despite recent strikes. [1] He said the United States was “not looking for a fight,” while warning Iran would not be allowed to block shipping in an “international waterway.” [1]
Caine, speaking the same day, said Iran’s post-ceasefire actions included the nine instances of firing at commercial vessels and the seizure of two container ships, along with attacks on U.S. forces. [1] He added that the attacks “fell below the threshold of restarting major combat operations at this point.” [1]
The United Arab Emirates, meanwhile, reported attacks from Iranian missiles and drones on May 4, 2026, including at an oil facility. [1] On May 5, 2026, the UAE said its air defenses were actively engaging Iranian missiles and drones. [1]
The latest developments come amid a long-running series of confrontations in the region dating to at least April 12, 2021, when Iran blamed Israel for an outage at the Natanz nuclear plant and vowed revenge. [1] More recently, on March 24, 2023, the U.S. military struck Iran-backed facilities in Syria after a drone attack. [1]
Timeline· Live
The Israel-Iran conflict escalates with intensified missile, cyber, and naval attacks involving Iran, Israel, and the U.S., including recent US and Iran trade strikes in the Strait of Hormuz, as Iran targets UAE infrastructure and advances missile technology, the U.S. deploys advanced defenses and troops, intercepts missiles, and conducts drone operations, while diplomatic efforts including a Beijing summit continue amid rising regional violence, economic disruptions, and Khamenei's rejection of Trump's call for surrender and stern warning against U.S. intervention, heightening tensions over control of critical Gulf maritime routes.
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Published May 4, 2026
Synthesized from 2 sources