War, latest news. Tehran: 'US proposal still under consideration'. Media: "Sporadic clashes with US ships"

US military forces today neutralised the oil tankers Sea Star III and Sevda, which were on their way to an Iranian port on the Gulf of Oman, in violation of the US blockade. This was reported on X by Centcom, according to which they were two Iranian-flagged tankers with no cargo. On 6 May, US forces neutralised the Hasna. The three ships stopped sailing towards Iran. "US forces in the Middle East remain committed to the full implementation of the blockade against vessels entering or leaving Iran," said Admiral Brad Cooper, head of Centcom.

The Fars news agency, linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (Irgc), claimed that "sporadic clashes" between Iranian armed forces and US ships near the Strait of Hormuz occurred a few hours earlier.

"As far as the negotiations are concerned, the US proposal is still being evaluated. Once the final conclusion is reached, we will undoubtedly announce it." This was stated by Esmaeil Baghaei, spokesman for the Iranian Foreign Ministry, to the Iranian news agency Tasnim. Regarding possible truce violations, Baghaei said Tehran remains 'nominally in a ceasefire situation', adding that the country's armed forces are closely monitoring developments.

The US launched new attacks against oil tankers near the blockade of Iran. This was reported by Fox News, according to which US forces conducted further air operations in the area, hitting several empty oil tankers attempting to force the blockade against Iran along the Strait of Hormuz.

Centcom, the US military central command covering the Middle East, reported that "there are currently over 70 oil tankers prevented by US forces from entering or leaving Iranian ports". These are commercial vessels that 'have the capacity to carry more than 166 million barrels of Iranian oil, with an estimated value of more than $13 billion,' Centcom reported on X.

"We will see what will happen, there will be a development in the coming hours, they are fragmented in Iran but I really hope for a serious proposal from them." So said US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in a press briefing after meetings with the government in Rome.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio called the meeting with Pope Leo XIV "very positive". "It was an important meeting to exchange our views and explanations on what we are doing," Rubio said. "I updated them on the situation in Iran and expressed our views on why this operation was important and the danger Iran poses to the world.

"Every time there is a diplomatic solution on the table, the US opts for reckless military action. Is this a political pressure tactic? Or the result of a troublemaker who, once again, is dragging the US president into another quagmire? Whatever the cause, the result is the same: gIranians never give in to pressure'. This was written in a post on X by the Iranian Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, adding, "By the way, the CIA is wrong. Our missile inventory and launching capability is not 75% as of 28 February. The correct figure is 120%. As for our readiness to defend our people: 1000%'. The reference is to a CIA analysis published yesterday by the Washington Post.

The United Arab Emirates announced that it had intercepted two ballistic missiles and three drones launched from Iran. According to the Emirati Defence Ministry,three people were slightly injured. "Following the overt Iranian attacks against the UAE, air defences intercepted a total of 551 ballistic missiles, 29 cruise missiles and 2,263 drones," the ministry disclosed in a post on X.

Negotiations between Iran and the United States on ending the war remain stalled. Tehran has not yet responded to the 14-point memorandum proposed by Washington, and Iranian foreign spokesman Esmail Baghaei has put the brakes on the assumption of an imminent agreement: 'We have not yet reached a conclusion'. At the centre of the confrontation are the ceasefire, regional stability, and above all the Strait of Hormuz, where Iran has created a new authority to control and tax ships in transit.

Hezbollah launched a barrage of rockets aimed at the Western Galilee and the Haifa Bay area. This was reported by The Times of Israel. The IDF reported that one of the rockets was intercepted by its air defence, while the others hit open areas. No injuries are currently reported as a result of the attack. According to the Jewish state army, the rocket launch represents 'a further violation of the ceasefire agreements by the terrorist organisation Hezbollah'.

"The CIA is wrong. Our inventory and missile capabilities are not at 70% from 28 February (when the war started, ndr). The correct figure is 120%'. This was written on X Abbas Araghchi, Iran's foreign minister, responding to the news about numbers provided by US intelligence to President Trump regarding Tehran's military strength. "Whenever a diplomatic solution is on the table, the US opts for a reckless military adventure. Is this a crude pressure tactic or the result of the work of a party pooper who once again deceives the president by dragging him into another quagmire?" writes Araghchi, criticising US attacks and the alliance with Israel.

The tanker Ocean Koi, which was allegedly seized by the Pasdaran Navy, has been called 'Jin Li' since 30 November last, and ownership is based in Shanghai, China. This is claimed by the ship tracking site Tanker Trackers, on X. 'Its new name is actually Jin Li (9255933),' it reads, 'and has been since 30/11/2025. Reviewing our data, we can see that it has transported various Iranian hydrocarbons on at least 16 occasions since 2021; and with full knowledge of the situation in Iran, as half of the cargoes were done directly at an Iranian port, while the other half via ship-to-ship transshipment in more remote areas. The Jin Li is owned by Shanghai, China. The ship was sanctioned by the US Ofac on 25/02/2026'.

The United Arab Emirates will set up a national committee to document the damage caused by the Iranian attacks in order to support legal action, according to reports in the Emirati state media. Important monuments, airports and energy infrastructure were among the sites hit by Iranian attacks in the Gulf. The Emirates suffered the most damage, having been targeted by more than 2,800 drones and missiles from Iran. The national committee was tasked with 'documenting and monitoring all incidents, attacks and military actions associated with Iranian aggression', the official Wam news agency said. "The results of the committee's work," it specified, "will help support the UAE's legal efforts both domestically and internationally through the preparation of a comprehensive documentation dossier. Last month, the UAE demanded compensation from Iran for damages suffered in the attacks.

- The Iranian Navy seized an oil tanker, identified as Ocean Koi, accused by the authorities of attempting to hinder Iran's oil exports and national interests. This was reported by the Tasnim news agency, affiliated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (Irgc). Tasnim said that Iranian naval commandos carried out the seizure during what was called a 'special operation'. The initial report gave no details on the ship's flag, ownership or location of the incident.

The United States "expects a response from the Iranian side". This was said by Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, speaking to the press after the bilateral at the Farnesina with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. "We are in favour of all initiatives that can lead to a permanent ceasefire," Tajani said, "we encourage dialogue.

Further reading

Meloni sees Rubio: 'Frank dialogue between allies who defend national interests'

08 May 2026

Three Israeli army (IDF) soldiers and an Israeli civilian are accused of spying for Iran. This was reported by the Times of Israel, explaining that the accusation is that the four had long-standing contacts with individuals linked to Iran. According to a joint statement by the IDF, Israeli police and Shin Bet quoted by the newspaper, the 3 soldiers had interacted with their handler before enlisting, when they were still minors, and knowingly carried out espionage missions on behalf of Tehran. The soldiers, who were training at an Israeli Air Force technical school, are accused of photographing the school premises at the request of the Iranian contact person. The suspects also allegedly filmed public areas such as railway stations, shopping centres and security cameras. Security agencies add that the contact person had asked the 4 accused to buy weapons, but it is unclear whether they agreed to do so. The 3 military personnel and the civilian will be arraigned later today by Haifa District Prosecutor's Office magistrates.

The Iranian Revolutionary Guardians reported today of a 'large-scale, high-precision joint operation' conducted against American destroyers last night, 'after the ceasefire violation and aggression by the US military against an Iranian oil tanker near the port of Jask', which allegedly caused 'extensive damage' to the American vessels.

According to the statement released today by the Pasdaran, the navy of the Guardians of the Revolution 'opened fire at enemy destroyers using various types of ballistic and anti-ship cruise missiles, as well as drones with high-explosive warheads'.

"Two intentions remain pressing: the family, which suffers from the weakening of the conjugal bond, and peace, endangered by international tensions and an economy that prefers the arms trade to respect for human life". "The wars still being fought in so many regions of the world call for a renewed commitment not only economic and political, but also spiritual and religious. Peace is born within the heart", "we cannot resign ourselves to the images of death that the chronicles propose to us every day". This is Pope Leo's new appeal against 'wars' from the sanctuary of Pompeii

Further reading

Leo XIV: 'No more wars, we cannot resign ourselves to images of death'

08 May 2026

British Labour Prime Minister Keir Starmer acknowledged as 'very tough' the defeat suffered by his party in the local elections, which became clear from the first partial count of the results and with the count still in progress. A result that 'hurts', he said, praising the commitment of Labour's activists and taking 'responsibility' for the defeat upon himself, without 'looking for scapegoats'. This defeat,' he added, 'does not weaken my determination to deliver the change promised' by the government.

A Lebanese Civil Defence rescuer was killed by an Israeli airstrike in the south of the country. The news, reported by the Lebanese Civil Defence, was picked up by international media, including Al-Jazeera and Iran International, on X. The attack reportedly took place with a drone against a truck along a road in Kfarchouba.

Israeli artillery is shelling the outskirts of al-Mansouri and Byout el-Saiyad, in the south of the country, extending fire as far as the coast of al-Mansouri-Hamra. This was reported by the Lebanese national news agency Nna, as picked up by Al-Jazeera. The shelling reportedly came from positions south of Tyre. At dawn, an Israeli force supported by several military vehicles attempted to advance towards Byout el-Saiyad. The advance was supported by heavy artillery shelling, with attack helicopters engaged in reconnaissance operations in the area. Last night, a warning attack had targeted Lebanese Red Cross and Lebanese Army medical teams on their way to the municipality of Zibqin, according to NNA. The medical teams were trying to recover bodies and evacuate the wounded following an earlier raid, but were forced to retreat under Israeli fire, NNA said. In addition, a powerful explosion was caused by Israeli forces in the town of al-Khiam.

The Global Sumud Flotilla accused the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) of "severe physical and sexual violence and systematic humiliation" against activists intercepted and captured in late April in international waters off Crete.

In a note, the Global Sumud Flotilla stated that 'at least four participants were sexually assaulted'. Testimonies then revealed "deliberate deprivation of warm clothes, shoes and socks, as well as a lack of adequate food, water and blankets", and a "medical neglect" that led to several cases of hyperthermia and hypothermia. "These incidents are not described as isolated cases, but rather as part of a broader pattern of treatment aimed at dehumanising those who stand by the Palestinian people," the organisation said. A total of 179 activists were captured by Israeli forces and handed over to the Greek authorities. Two activists, Saif Abukeshek and Thiago Ávila, were instead taken to Israel, where they are now being held in Shikma prison.

Iran's central military command accused the US of violating the ceasefire with attacks on ships in the Strait of Hormuz, saying the attacks on US forces were in retaliation. The US 'targeted an Iranian oil tanker moving from Iranian coastal waters in the Jask region to the Strait of Hormuz, as well as another ship entering the Strait of Hormuz opposite the port of Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates,' the central military command said in a statement quoted by state television.

- US President Donald Trump declared that the ceasefire was still in force after the clash with Iran, which he called a mere 'trifle', and that negotiations for a peace agreement were continuing.

"They joked with us today," Trump told the press during a surprise visit to the Lincoln Memorial shortly after the US military confirmed attacks on Iranian military sites. "We wiped them out. They joked, I call it a trifle," he added.

The UAE's Ministry of Defence announced that the country's air defences were 'actively engaged' in a missile and drone attack in the early hours of Friday, as the fragile ceasefire in the war with Iran was again put to the test.

The Ministry advised residents not to approach, photograph or touch "debris or fragments that have fallen as a result of successful air interceptions". Last night, the US military had claimed to have intercepted Iranian attacks against three navy ships in the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday night and to have 'struck Iranian military installations responsible for the attacks against US forces'.

I told US Secretary of State Marco Rubio 'to tell the Pope in a very polite way and with great respect that Iran cannot possess a nuclear weapon. So when he stands up for them. I also told him to tell the Pope also that Iran killed 42,000 innocent protesters who were not armed. Tell the Pope that." Donald Trump said this, according to US media reports.

"In the future we will hit them with much more force and much more violence if they do not sign their Agreement, and quickly." That's Donald Trump's message to the Iranians after three American ships came under "enemy fire" and responded to the attacks in "self-defence". "The Iranian attackers were completely destroyed, along with numerous small vessels used to replace their navy, which is now totally decapitated," Trump explained, stressing that "missiles and drones" were launched against the American ships. A 'normal country would have allowed these destroyers to pass, but Iran is not a normal country. It is led by madmen who, if they had the opportunity to use a nuclear weapon, would do so without hesitation,' Trump remarked. 'But they never will. We will hit them with much more force and much more violence in the future if they do not sign their agreement quickly. Our three destroyers will now rejoin our naval blockade, which constitutes a real wall of steel'.

Further reading

Iran risks becoming Trump's Alcatraz

07 May 2026

The raids against Iran in response to their attacks are just a 'tap'. Donald Trump told Abc, stressing that the ceasefire is still in place.

News from the Middle East war front on 7 May