UAE Official Rejects Iranian Control Of Strait Of Hormuz
UAE diplomatic adviser Anwar Gargash rejected Iranian control over the Strait of Hormuz, advocating for an international, law-based guarantee to ensure maritime security in the post-conflict region.
In a post on X on May 1, Gargash said: “the collective international will and provisions of international law emerge as the primary guarantor of freedom of navigation through this vital passage, serving the stability of the region and the global economy in the postwar phase.”
He added: “no unilateral Iranian arrangements can be trusted or relied upon following its treacherous aggression against all its neighbors.”
In recent days, Iranian officials have reiterated Tehran's intention to control the Strait of Hormuz.
The Strait of Hormuz is a critical global energy chokepoint. Nearly all of the UAE’s LNG exports, along with the majority of its crude oil exports, traditionally pass through the strait. Roughly 12–13 percent of the oil flowing through it originates from the UAE, according to energy transport data.
Iran has effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz to most international shipping, while the US Navy is stopping Iranian ships entering or exiting Iranian ports.
Gulf states have increasingly called for internationally backed maritime protection arrangements, arguing that unilateral control or interference by any single regional actor would threaten global energy stability.
Gargash’s remarks come against the backdrop of UN Security Council Resolution 2817, adopted in March and co-sponsored by 136 countries, which condemned threats to close the Strait of Hormuz and affirmed that impeding freedom of navigation through the waterway constitutes a threat to international peace and security.
US Legal Showdown Over War Powers Deadline
The US-Iran temporary cease-fire is triggering a major legal dispute in Washington as a key War Powers Resolution deadline looms.
According to Reuters, the Trump administration said the halt in fighting over the past several weeks means the conflict no longer counts as “active hostilities” under the War Powers Resolution. The law generally requires a president to seek approval from Congress after 60 days of military action.
The conflict began on February 28 with US and Israeli air strikes on Iran, followed by strikes from Tehran. While the cease-fire has largely held, Democrats in Congress argue that the law does not allow the administration to pause the timeline because of a truce.
The White House, however, maintains that the absence of ongoing fighting effectively stops the clock, reducing the need for immediate congressional action. With Republicans holding narrow majorities in Congress, no resolution is expected before the deadline.
US Treasury Secretary Says Iran's Currency Has Fallen To A Record Low
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent says Iran’s currency has fallen to a record low amid mounting economic pressure and the US blockage of Iranian oil exports and shipping routes.
"With their oil industry closing and their currency plummeting, it is past time for the Iranian regime to concede that the people of Iran deserve much better than the ruins of their current regime can provide," he wrote on X.
"The Iranian people deserve a new era, which the corrupt and shambolic Iranian regime cannot provide" he added.
Air Defenses Activated In Tehran Amid Drone Reports
Air defense systems were activated in Iran’s capital late on April 30, with antiaircraft fire heard in several parts of the city as forces responded to suspected drones, Iranian media reported.
According to the Tasnim and Fars news agencies, both affiliated with Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, the sounds were heard for about 20 minutes as air defenses targeted “small aircraft and reconnaissance drones” over Tehran. The reports said it was initially unclear whether the activity was part of a military test or an operational response.
The news agencies later reported that the systems had been used to counter aerial objects but provided no further details on their origin or whether any were shot down.
Iranian media said the activity stopped after roughly 20 minutes and that the situation in Tehran had returned to normal, with no reports of damage or casualties.
A cease-fire has paused direct fighting between Iranian and US forces since April 8.
We are now closing the live blog for the day. We'll be back at 7:30 a.m. Central European time to cover the latest events across the Middle East.
UAE Bans Travel Of Its Citizens To Iran, Lebanon, Iraq
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) on April 30 said it was banning travel by Emirati nationals to Iran, Lebanon, and Iraq, citing the Middle East war and other security concerns.
Since the US and Israel launched their air strikes on Iran on February 38, Tehran has targeted Gulf countries with retaliatory missile and drone launches aimed at civilian and energy infrastructure and US-linked sites.
"In light of current regional developments, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announces a travel ban on UAE nationals traveling to the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Lebanese Republic, and the Republic of Iraq," state news agency WAM reported.
It said the Foreign Ministry urged "all UAE nationals currently in these countries to expedite their immediate return" to the UAE.
With reporting by AFP
'Of Course' Iran Will Play In Soccer World Cup, FIFA Chief Says
FIFA President Gianni Infantino said "of course" Iran will compete in World Cup matches in the US during a meeting of the soccer governing body's congress in Vancouver, Canada -- held without the Iranian delegation after an incident at the airport upon its arrival.
"Let me start at the outset. Of course, Iran will be participating at the FIFA World Cup 2026. And, of course, Iran will play in the United States of America," Infantino said on April 30.
"And the reason for that is very simple, we have to unite. It is my responsibility, our responsibility."
US President Donald Trump said he was "OK" with Iran playing at the world's most-watched sporting event.
"Well, if Gianni said it, I'm okay. Did Gianni say it?...You know what? Let them play. Well, Gianni's fantastic, he's a friend of mine. He talked about it," Trump told reporters.
Iran qualified for the tournament, set for June 11-July 19, but its participation has been in doubt amid the ongoing US-Israeli war with Iran.
Tehran requested alternative venues for matches in the US, but the request was denied.
Iranian soccer federation officials, including President Mehdi Taj, were scheduled to attend the congress but turned back at the Toronto airport after what Tehran described as “unacceptable behavior” by Canadian immigration authorities.
Taj is a former member of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC). Canadian officials said entry decisions were made on a case-by-case basis and individuals linked to the IRGC, which Canada designates as a terrorist organization, would not be allowed in the country.
With reporting by Reuters
Israel Says May Be Forced To 'Act Again' Against Iran
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said on April 30 his country may be forced to "act again" against Iran to ensure that Tehran is not "a threat" again.
"US President Donald Trump, in coordination with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, is leading the efforts to achieve the campaign's objectives, to ensure that Iran does not once again become a threat to Israel, the United States, and the free world in the future," a statement published by Katz's office said.
"We support this effort and are providing the necessary support, but it is possible that we may soon have to act again to ensure these objectives are met," it added.
The joint US-Israeli military campaign against Iran stopped on April 8 due to a cease-fire agreed upon between Washington and Tehran.
A cease-fire between Israel and Lebanon followed, significantly reducing hostilities in the region. However, both Israel and Hezbollah have continued to exchange attacks in southern Lebanon.
A militant group and political party that controls much of southern Lebanon, Hezbollah is considered a terrorist organization by the US, while the European Union has blacklisted its armed wing but not its political branch.
Starmer Accuses Iran Of Trying To Harm British Jews
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer accused Iran on April 30 of trying to "harm British Jews."
"We need stronger powers to counter the sinister threat from countries like Iran, because we know they want to harm British Jews," he said, according to a statement from the British prime minister's office.
His remarks came a day after a man attacked two Jewish men with a knife in a street in north London.
Starmer has previously stated that Iran has been trying to target British Jews. In late February, he warned that the Iranian regime poses a direct threat to the Jewish community in the UK. He reiterated those concerns in mid-April about malign state actors using proxies against Jewish targets.
Starmer did not provide further details in his April 30 statement about how Iran was trying to harm Jews -- or if Iran was connected to the stabbing in north London.
Since the US-Israeli war with Iran began, attacks on Jews have increased in Britain
Trump Urges Merz To Prioritize Ukraine Over Iran
US President Donald Trump has said that German Chancellor Friedrich Merz should "spend more time on ending the war with Russia/Ukraine" and "less time on interfering with those that are getting rid of the Iran Nuclear threat."
Trump made the comments on his TruthSocial platform.
Trump has been at loggerheads with Merz in recent days after the German chancellor said that the Iranians were humiliating the United States in talks to end the war.
The US president responded on April 28 that Merz didn't know what he was talking about. On April 29, Trump said that Washington was "studying and reviewing" the possible reduction of US troops in Germany.