US military strikes Iran-bound oil tanker defying Trumps naval blockade

New DelhiUpdated: May 25, 2026 11:59 PM IST Rescue workers try to put out a fire at a residential building after a Russian strike on Kyiv, Ukraine. (AP Photo)Russia has threatened to launch a “series of systematic strikes” against Ukraine, days after carrying out one of the largest attack on the Ukrainian capital since the war between the two nations began in February 2022. Moscow said it will launch fresh wave of “systematic strikes” on defence industrial facilities in Kyiv and warned foreign nationals, diplomats to leave Kyiv “as soon as possible”, Russia’s foreign ministry said in a statement. ⚡️ Given the continued terrorist attacks by the Kiev regime against Russian civilians, @mod_russia will be targeting Ukrainian defence industry facilities in Kiev. Foreign nationals, including diplomatic missions & staff, should leave the city ASAP.https://t.co/yUFj4twX81 pic.twitter.com/9Hu0lPauvH — MFA Russia 🇷🇺 (@mfa_russia) May 25, 2026 Russia’s defence ministry said the strikes are in retaliation to a Ukrainian drone attack last week that hit a student dorm in Starobilsk in the Luhansk region which led to the death of at least 18 people, Al Jazeera reported. Informing about the development, Russia’s foreign ministry in a social media post stated, “Given the continued terrorist attacks by the Kyiv regime against Russian civilians, Russia will be targeting Ukrainian defence industry facilities in Kyiv. Foreign nationals, including diplomatic missions & staff, should leave the city ASAP.” The Express Global Desk at indianexpress.com which delivers authoritative, verified, and context-driven coverage of key international developments shaping global politics, policy, and migration trends. The desk focuses on stories with direct relevance for Indian and global audiences, combining breaking news with in-depth explainers and analysis. A major focus area of the desk is US immigration and visa policy, including developments related to student visas, work permits, permanent residency pathways, executive actions, and court rulings. The Global Desk also closely tracks Canada’s immigration, visa, and study policies, covering changes to study permits, post-study work options, permanent residence programmes, and regulatory updates affecting migrants and international students. All reporting from the Global Desk adheres to The Indian Express’ editorial standards, relying on official data, government notifications, court documents, and on-record sources. The desk prioritises clarity, accuracy, and accountability, ensuring readers can navigate complex global systems with confidence. Core Team The Express Global Desk is led by a team of experienced journalists and editors with deep expertise in international affairs and migration policy: Aniruddha Dhar – Senior Assistant Editor with extensive experience in global affairs, international politics, and editorial leadership. Nischai Vats – Deputy Copy Editor specialising in US politics, US visa and immigration policy, and policy-driven international coverage. Mashkoora Khan – Sub-editor focusing on global developments, with a strong emphasis on Canada visa, immigration, and study-related policy coverage. ... Read More Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram© IE Online Media Services Pvt Ltd Tags: Russia Ukraine Crisis

Container ships sit at anchor in the Strait of Hormuz off Bandar Abbas, Iran. (Photo: AP) The US military said Wednesday that it boarded an Iranian-flagged commercial oil tanker in the Gulf of Oman that was suspected of trying to violate the American blockade. US Central Command said on social media that the M/T Celestial Sea was searched and redirected after being suspected of trying to head to an Iranian port.It’s at least the fifth vessel to be boarded since the Trump administration began the blockade of Iranian shipping. The military boarded the tanker after President Donald Trump said he had called off renewed military strikes on Iran in an effort to make progress in negotiations to end the war. He said he had planned “a very major attack” for Tuesday but put it off, saying America’s allies in the Gulf asked him to wait for two to three days because they feel they are close to a deal with Iran. Trump has repeatedly set deadlines for Tehran and then backed off. Iran has a chokehold on the Strait of Hormuz, the vital shipping lane for global oil supplies, and the US military has enforced its own blockade on Iranian ports and coastline as well as seizing ships linked to Tehran further afield. The US military began the blockade in mid-April, several days into a ceasefire, in an effort to force Tehran to open the Strait of Hormuz and accept a deal to end the war.Story continues below this ad Before the US blockade, Tehran had allowed some ships perceived as friendly to pass while charging considerable fees, leading to accusations it is holding the global economy hostage. The U.S. military has said that 1,550 vessels, from 87 countries, are currently stranded in the Persian Gulf. The disruptions to the critical waterway have led to wild shifts in the global energy market and raised gasoline prices in the United States, causing potential problems for Trump’s Republican Party ahead of congressional midterm elections in November.

People ride a scooter past the rubble of a building destroyed in an Israeli airstrike the previous day in the southern village of Maarakeh, Lebanon. (Photo: AP)Iran-US War LIVE: US President Donald Trump has warned Iran to move quickly on a peace deal with Washington, saying time is running out, as fresh military incidents and strikes were reported across the Middle East. What Trump said: Trump said the “clock is ticking” for Iran to reach an agreement and warned that “there won’t be anything left of them” if it fails to act. He has been pressing Tehran to return to negotiations amid ongoing tensions over its nuclear programme, regional conflict, and sanctions.Key developments:Story continues below this ad Iran’s Mehr news agency said the US had not offered meaningful concessions in its latest response to Tehran’s proposal for talks. A drone strike near the Barakah nuclear power plant in the UAE caused a fire in an electrical generator, while Saudi Arabia said it intercepted three drones. Israel said it struck around 100 sites in southern Lebanon over two days, despite a reported 45-day extension to a ceasefire. In Gaza, at least eight Palestinians were reported killed, including three aid workers in Deir el-Balah, while others were injured in recent strikes. Iran said it will soon announce a plan to manage shipping traffic and impose tolls in the Strait of Hormuz. Follow The Indian Express Global Desk live coverage for the latest updates from the Middle East, the diplomatic corridors of Europe, and the evolving legal battles in Washington. Live UpdatesLive BlogStay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram© IE Online Media Services Pvt Ltd Tags: Iran US tension

NewsWorldUS NewsThe Iran war is crippling one of the world’s wealthiest nations Premium In Qatar, a desert peninsula protruding into the Persian Gulf, natural gas turned the country from a pearl-diving backwater into one of the world’s wealthiest nations. Qatar spent three decades building supply lines, shipping tens of billions of dollars of liquefied natural gas each year through the Strait of Hormuz to ports across Asia and […] 3 min readMay 18, 2026 08:52 AM IST First published on: May 18, 2026 at 08:51 AM IST People take photos during a light and water show at the Place Vendome Mall in Lusail, Qatar, on Dec. 7, 2022. Iranian attacks have paralyzed Qatar’s vital gas exports and are stalling the tourism and business pivots that were intended to anchor its future growth. (Erin Schaff/The New York Times) In Qatar, a desert peninsula protruding into the Persian Gulf, natural gas turned the country from a pearl-diving backwater into one of the world’s wealthiest nations. Qatar spent three decades building supply lines, shipping tens of billions of dollars of liquefied natural gas each year through the Strait of Hormuz to ports across Asia and Europe.The state, which derives more than 60% of its revenue from gas and gas-related exports, used that money to transform the peninsula into a gleaming metropolis. Gas wealth funded a metro system linking the capital, Doha, to Lusail, a northern city that is home to a Parisian-style mall and a theme park with artificial snow. The riches were also funneled into the world’s most expensive World Cup, and a $600 billion sovereign wealth fund. Then, in February, Qatar’s door to the world slammed shut.Story continues below this ad The nation is also cut off from the sea routes through which it imports everything from vehicles to produce. Fears of regional instability have hurt tourism and eroded business sentiment. Ras Laffan, Qatar’s industrial center for gas production, is shuttered, and roads are blocked. In this vast port north of Doha, loading cranes stand paralyzed. Hotels and boutiques sit in noticeable silence. Qatar’s growth forecasts have been slashed amid the cessation of LNG trade. For Qatar, gas shipments “are nothing short of foundational,” Ahmed Helal, a managing director at the Asia Group, a strategic advisory firm, said in an interview in Doha recently. “Nothing you see here would have been possible without the wealth of energy,” he added. “That is why Qatar is quickly falling into a very challenging fiscal situation.” Unlike its neighbors, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, which have pipelines that can bypass the Strait of Hormuz, Qatar is geographically trapped behind the waterway.Story continues below this ad Within 24 hours of the Iranian blockade, QatarEnergy, the state-owned energy giant, announced it couldn’t fulfill its contracts. Two weeks later, Iranian missiles and drones struck Qatar’s Ras Laffan plant, damaging critical equipment and causing a 17% reduction in Qatar’s production capacity. The damage means that even if the strait were to open tomorrow, it would take years to return to prewar output. The International Monetary Fund expects Qatar’s economy to shrink 8.6% this year before rebounding in 2027. Loading Recommendations... 0102030405Live Blog

NewsWorldUS News'Missiles, drones locked on US targets': Iran's fresh threat to US as peace talks are stalled Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has issued warning that any attacks on its oil tankers would result in retaliation against US military assets in the region. 3 min readMay 10, 2026 05:53 AM IST First published on: May 10, 2026 at 05:53 AM IST A man holds an Iranian flag for a pro-government campaign in downtown Tehran, Iran. (Photo: AP) Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has warned that any attack on its oil tankers or commercial vessels would trigger retaliation against United States military bases and ships in the region, as tensions continue around the Strait of Hormuz. State-run IRIB News quoted IRGC naval commanders as saying: “Any attack on Iranian oil tankers and commercial ships will be met with a wide attack on one of the American bases in the region and enemy ships.”“Any attack… will be met with a wide attack” The warning follows a series of confrontations between Iranian and US forces in and around the Strait, a key route for global oil shipments. While both sides have reported limited exchanges of fire in recent days, US President Donald Trump has said a ceasefire remains in place. “Missiles and drones are locked on American targets” In a separate statement carried by IRIB, a senior Iranian commander said Tehran’s military assets were ready. “IRGC missiles and aerospace drones are locked on American targets in the region and aggressor enemy ships,” General Sardar Mousavi said. “We are waiting for the order to fire.”Story continues below this ad Iran reviewing US proposal Iranian officials said Tehran is reviewing a proposal from Washington aimed at easing tensions, even as they expressed distrust over recent developments. Ali Safari said Iran had received messages through diplomatic channels suggesting the United States wanted to avoid a broader conflict. “We are reviewing their proposal,” he said, adding that Iran remained sceptical of US intentions.“The attacks can no longer be ignored” Safari said Iran’s priority was to stabilise the shipping lane but warned against further escalation.Story continues below this ad “The attacks can no longer be ignored,” he said, adding that the United States “cannot again use the Strait of Hormuz to attack Iran and the countries of the region.” A woman walks past an anti-US billboard depicting US President Donald Trump and the Strait of Hormuz, in Tehran, Iran. (REUTERS) He also linked the maritime tensions to wider regional issues, including Lebanon, and criticised countries backing a United Nations Security Council draft resolution targeting Iran. He named the United Arab Emirates among those he accused of supporting US actions. UK deploys warship to region The United Kingdom said it is deploying a Royal Navy warship to the Middle East ahead of a possible mission to protect shipping in the Strait. The Ministry of Defence said HMS Dragon would support mine clearance efforts and help safeguard vessels as part of a “strictly defensive” plan.Story continues below this ad “The pre-positioning of HMS Dragon is part of prudent planning that will ensure that the UK is ready… to secure the Strait, when conditions allow,” a spokesperson said. The Express Global Desk at The Indian Express delivers authoritative, verified, and context-driven coverage of key international developments shaping global politics, policy, and migration trends. The desk focuses on stories with direct relevance for Indian and global audiences, combining breaking news with in-depth explainers and analysis. A major focus area of the desk is US immigration and visa policy, including developments related to student visas, work permits, permanent residency pathways, executive actions, and court rulings. The Global Desk also closely tracks Canada’s immigration, visa, and study policies, covering changes to study permits, post-study work options, permanent residence p

NewsWorldUS NewsUS strikes Iranian fast boats as Tehran attacks UAE oil facility The US military said helicopters were used in the strikes. Iran denied that any such attack took place. 3 min readMay 5, 2026 05:59 AM IST First published on: May 5, 2026 at 05:56 AM IST An Emirati patrol boat, left, is near a tanker anchored in the Gulf of Oman near the Strait of Hormuz, as seen from a coastal road near Khor Fakkan, United Arab Emirates. (Photo: AP) The United States has struck seven Iranian “fast boats” in the Strait of Hormuz, while Iran has been accused of attacking an oil facility in the UAE, according to the BBC. US President Donald Trump said, “We’ve shot down seven small boats or, as they like to call them, ‘fast’ boats. It’s all they have left.” The US military said helicopters were used in the strikes. Iran denied that any such attack took place. At the same time, the UAE reported that its key oil port at Port of Fujairah was hit, causing a fire and injuring three people. Officials said air defences intercepted missiles and drones during the incident. Ships escorted out under ‘Project Freedom’ The developments come as Washington tries to move stranded ships out of the Strait of Hormuz under what Trump has called “Project Freedom”.Story continues below this ad Shipping firm Maersk told the BBC that one of its US-flagged vessels safely exited the Gulf with American military support. A patrol boat moves through the water as cargo ships sit at anchor in the Strait of Hormuz off Bandar Abbas. (AP) The company said the transit was “completed without incident, and all crew members are safe and unharmed.” Trump said the US was helping vessels that were “locked up in the Strait of Hormuz” and described them as “neutral and innocent bystanders”, the BBC added. Claims between US and Iran Earlier, the US said its naval ships had moved through the strait, but Iran rejected the claim. Iranian officials said they had fired warning shots at a US warship, something Washington denied.Story continues below this ad Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told the BBC that the situation showed “there’s no military solution to a political crisis”. He criticised the US plan, saying: “Project Freedom is Project Deadlock.” Attacks on vessels and regional response The UAE said a tanker linked to its state oil firm was hit in the strait. South Korea also reported an explosion on one of its ships nearby. An IRGC speedboat approaches the cargo ship Epaminondas during what state media described as the seizure of one of two vessels accused of violations in the Strait of Hormuz. (AP Photo) Abu Dhabi called the incident a “dangerous escalation” and said it reserved the right to respond. Iran later said it had no plans to target the UAE.Story continues below this ad International leaders reacted strongly. France and the UK condemned the strikes, with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer saying London would continue to support its Gulf partners. Global impact and ongoing blockade The Strait of Hormuz remains largely blocked following US and Israeli strikes on Iran earlier this year. Around 20% of global oil and gas supplies usually pass through the route. Oil prices rose sharply after the latest reports, with Brent crude crossing $115 a barrel. Thousands of seafarers and vessels remain stuck in the region, raising concerns over supply chains and crew welfare. The situation remains tense, with both sides exchanging claims and no clear path to easing the crisis. The Express Global Desk at The Indian Express delivers authoritative, verified, and context-driven coverage of key international developments shaping global politics, policy, and migration trends. The desk focuses on stories with direct relevance for Indian and global audiences, combining breaking news with in-depth explainers and analysis. A major focus area of the desk is US immigration and visa policy, including developments related to student visas, work permits, perman