Fujairah oil zone hit by fire after drone attack as UAE says it intercepted Iran missiles

UAE says attacks pose direct threat to security, reserves its 'full and legitimate right' to respond

Authorities in the United Arab Emirates' Fujairah said on Monday that a fire broke out at the Fujairah Oil Industry Zone following what they described as a drone attack originating from Iran.

Civil defence teams were deployed immediately to contain the blaze, Fujairah Media Office said in a statement.

The UAE defence ministry said in a post on X, "The UAE has intercepted three missiles fired from Iran over its territorial waters, with a fourth missile crashing into the sea."

The statement added that, "The Ministry of Defence affirmed that the sounds heard in different parts of the country are a result of air defence systems engaging threats."

"The ministry urged the public to obtain information from official sources and comply with all public safety procedures when warning messages are issued to the public," it said.

There was no immediate comment from Iran. However, Iranian state media, citing a senior military official, said that Iran had no plan to target the UAE.

Four cruise missiles launched from Iran were detected toward various areas across the country. Three were successfully engaged over the country’s territorial waters, while one fell in the sea.

The Ministry of Defense affirmed that the sounds heard in different parts of the… pic.twitter.com/ugwPRCcY24

— وزارة الدفاع |MOD UAE (@modgovae) May 4, 2026

The ministry in a post on X said that the UAE air defence systems were actively engaging with missiles and UAV threats.

It confirmed that the "sounds heard in various parts of the country are the result of the UAE air defence systems intercepting ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and drones."

تتعامل حالياً الدفاعات الجوية الإماراتية مع اعتداءات صاروخية وطائرات مسيرة قادمة من ايران وتؤكد وزارة الدفاع أن الاصوات المسموعة في مناطق متفرقة من الدولة هي نتيجة تعامل منظومات الدفاعات الجوية الإماراتية للصواريخ الباليستية، والجوالة والطائرات المسيرة.

UAE Air Defences system… pic.twitter.com/uipvk35bAN

— وزارة الدفاع |MOD UAE (@modgovae) May 4, 2026

The foreign ministry statement said that the UAE strongly condemned the "renewed treacherous Iranian aggression using missiles and drones."

It added that the Iranian attacks marked a serious escalation and posed a direct threat to the country's security. However, the UAE reserved its "full and legitimate right" to respond to Iranian attacks.

الإمارات تُدين بشدة تجدد العدوان الإيراني الغادر باستخدام الصواريخ والطائرات المسيّرة pic.twitter.com/1fAwX6GFuK

— MoFA وزارة الخارجية (@mofauae) May 4, 2026

 

According to Al Jazeera, three Indian nationals were injured in the drone attack on Fujairah’s petroleum industrial site being blamed on Iran, the Fujairah Media Office says.

It said that the three had been taken to the hospital and their injuries had been termed “moderate”.

BREAKING: Three Indian nationals injured in Fujairah drone attack

🔴 LIVE updates: https://t.co/nGgZ2R9QBM pic.twitter.com/4kAUKoXUdI

— Al Jazeera Breaking News (@AJENews) May 4, 2026

Iran's IRGC claims hitting US warship in Hormuz, but CENTCOM denies

Iran said it had forced a US warship to turn back from entering the Strait of Hormuz on Monday, although US Central Command quickly denied a report of a missile strike.

A senior Iranian official told Reuters Iran had fired a warning shot and that it was unclear whether the warship had been damaged.

Iran’s Fars News Agency said two missiles hit a US warship in the Strait of Hormuz. However, the US Central Command said in a post on X that no US Navy ships had been struck.

🚫 CLAIM: Iranian state media claims that Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps hit a U.S. warship with two missiles.

✅ TRUTH: No U.S. Navy ships have been struck. U.S. forces are supporting Project Freedom and enforcing the naval blockade on Iranian ports. pic.twitter.com/VFxovxLU6G

— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) May 4, 2026

US Central Command, in a statement on X, said that, “US Navy guided-missile destroyers are currently operating in the Arabian Gulf after transiting the Strait of Hormuz in support of Project Freedom.”

It further added that American forces were actively assisting efforts to restore transit for commercial shipping. “As a first step, 2 US-flagged merchant vessels have successfully transited through the Strait of Hormuz and are safely headed on their journey,” it added.

U.S. Navy guided-missile destroyers are currently operating in the Arabian Gulf after transiting the Strait of Hormuz in support of Project Freedom. American forces are actively assisting efforts to restore transit for commercial shipping. As a first step, 2 U.S.-flagged merchant… pic.twitter.com/SVDxDhK72I

— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) May 4, 2026

According to Press TV, Iran stated that its forces had already fired warning shots at several US military vessels.

“Just like during the 40-day war, Iran will not allow American combat ships to pass, and any transit through the Strait of Hormuz will require authorisation from Iran’s armed forces,” it added.

🔺 Iranian forces have already fired warning shots at several US military vessels, and just like during the “40-day war”, Iran will not allow American combat ships to pass, and any transit through the Strait of Hormuz will require authorization from Iran’s armed forces.

— Press TV 🔻 (@PressTV) May 4, 2026

Earlier, Iran's navy said it had ​prevented the entry of enemy ‌warships into the Strait of Hormuz by issuing a "swift and decisive warning", ​according to state TV. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has vowed to 'forcefully stop' ships violating Hormuz regulations.

IRGC vows to 'forcefully stop' ships violating Strait of Hormuz regulationshttps://t.co/1JhkwuKimV

— Press TV 🔻 (@PressTV) May 4, 2026

The reported attack comes after President Trump said the US will begin “Project Freedom” on Monday to “guide” stranded ships out of the Strait of Hormuz.

The semi-official Fars news agency said a ‌US ⁠warship had been hit by two missiles while sailing near the port of Jask at the ​southern entrance ​to ⁠the strait and turned back from its attempt ​to transit the strait.

US Central Command said it would support the effort with 15,000 military personnel, more than 100 land and sea-based aircraft, along with warships and drones, according to Al Jazeera.

UAE accuses Iran of attacking empty tanker

The United Arab Emirates on Monday accused Iran of attacking an empty crude oil tanker belonging to the Abu Dhabi state oil firm ADNOC with drones as it attempted to pass through the Strait of Hormuz.

ADNOC's maritime energy logistics unit said the Barakah was empty when it was attacked by two drones, and no injuries were reported.

الإمارات تُدين بأشد العبارات استهداف ناقلة وطنية تابعة لأدنوك أثناء مرورها من مضيق هرمز pic.twitter.com/tG7IH0JDUK

— MoFA وزارة الخارجية (@mofauae) May 4, 2026

"The UAE further stressed the need for Iran to halt these unprovoked attacks, ensure its full commitment to an immediate cessation of all hostilities, and the complete and unconditional reopening of the Strait of Hormuz," the foreign ministry said.

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations agency ​said earlier that a tanker had reported being hit by unknown projectiles in the Strait.

 

Iran reviewing US peace proposal, says foreign ministry spokesperson

Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei said officials are reviewing a US counter-proposal to end the war, according to IRNA News Agency.

“The US message was received through Pakistan, and I will not discuss the details of the issues raised at this time, because these issues are still under review,” Baghaei told reporters at a press conference, according to Al Jazeera.

He said the US practice of making “excessive and unreasonable demands” means the proposal “is not easy to review”.

News reports in the media about negotiations over its nuclear programme are “mostly speculation”, Baghaei added, according to Al Jazeera.

“The issues raised about enrichment or nuclear materials are purely speculative, and, at this stage, we are not talking about anything other than stopping the war completely, and the direction we will take in the future will be determined in the future.”

Iran's Revolutionary Guards unveil new map of Strait of Hormuz under their control, state media said

The IRGC navy issued ​a new map of ‌the area of the Strait of Hormuz ​under its control ​on Monday, state media reported.

the irgc navy has defined the strait of hormuz maritime zone under iranian military control. the area extends from mount mobarak to fujairah in the south, and from qeshm island to umm al quwain in the west, asserting full authority over this vital global energy chokepoint. pic.twitter.com/0sodow6IZi

— Press TV 🔻 (@PressTV) May 4, 2026

The ⁠area starts in ​the west with a ​line between the westernmost tip of Iran's Qeshm island ​to the United ​Arab Emirates' Umm al Quwain ‌emirate. ⁠In the east, the area stops at a line between ​Iran's Mount ​Mobarak ⁠and the UAE's Emirate of ​Fujairah.

It was not ​immediately ⁠clear if and to what extenct their ⁠claimed ​area of control ​has changed.

US must abandon its excessive demands: Baghaei

Baghaei has said that the United States must reduce its demands on the Islamic Republic, with negotiations stalled over ending the two-month-long Middle East war, AFP reports.

“At this stage, our priority is to end the war,” he said in a briefing broadcast by state television.

“The other side must commit to a reasonable approach and abandon its excessive demands regarding Iran.”

Iran warns US Navy to stay clear of Hormuz

Iran's military warned US forces on Monday not to enter the Strait of Hormuz after President Donald Trump said the United States would start helping to free ships stranded in the Gulf by the US-Israeli war on Iran.

Trump gave few details of the plan to aid ships and their crews that have been "locked up" in the vital waterway and are running low on food and other supplies for more than two months since the conflict began.

"We have told these Countries that we will guide their Ships safely out of these restricted Waterways, so that they can freely and ably get on with their business," Trump said in a post on his Truth Social site on Sunday.

Read: US moves to escort ships as Hormuz simmers

The unified command of Iran's armed forces responded by warning US forces to stay out of the strait.

Its forces would "respond harshly" to any threat, it added, telling commercial ships and oil tankers to refrain from any movement in the absence of coordination with Iran's military.

"We have repeatedly said the security of the Strait of Hormuz is in our hands and that the safe passage of vessels needs to be coordinated with the armed forces," Ali Abdollahi, the head of the forces' unified command, said in the statement.

"We warn that any foreign armed forces, especially the aggressive US army, will be attacked if they intend to approach and enter the Strait of Hormuz."

US launches 'Project Freedom'

According to an article published on X by CENTCOM, the US will start lending military support to "Project Freedom", to "restore freedom of navigation for commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz"

https://t.co/6kFYBTZn8d

— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) May 3, 2026

According to the article, the mission is meant to "support merchant vessels seeking to freely transit through the essential international trade corridor."

“Our support for this defensive mission is essential to regional security and the global economy as we also maintain the naval blockade,” said Admiral Brad Cooper, CENTCOM commander.

US hands over seized Iranian ship, crew to Pakistan for repatriation

A vessel intercepted by the United States after attempting to breach a blockade on Iranian ports has been transferred to Pakistan for repatriation to Iran, along with its crew, US media reported Sunday, citing US Central Command (CENTCOM).

According to a statement released by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the 22 members have been evacuated to Pakistan, and the Iranian ship will also be "backloaded to Pakistani territorial waters for return to its original owners after necessary repairs."

🔊PR No.1️⃣1️⃣4️⃣/2️⃣0️⃣2️⃣6️⃣

Pakistan Facilitates Transfer of Iranian Crew Members
🔗⬇️ pic.twitter.com/hhe0eNVh1K

— Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) May 4, 2026

“Today, US forces completed the transfer of 22 crew members of M/V Touska to Pakistan for repatriation,” broadcaster ABC News quoted CENTCOM Spokesperson Captain Tim Hawkins as saying.

Hawkins added that six other passengers had already been transferred to a regional country for repatriation last week.

Iranian state media reported that the six individuals were family members of some of the crew.

US naval forces seized the vessel Touska on April 19 in the Gulf of Oman after it reportedly refused to comply with blockade directions.