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08:43

Iran Says Sound Of Explosions On Qeshm Island Linked to Drone Interception

Authorities in Irans Hormozgan Province said explosion sounds heard overnight on Qeshm Island were linked to air defenses intercepting drones, denying any damage.

A provincial statement on May 6 said the noise was caused by countering small drones and reconnaissance UAVs and that no impact, damage or explosion had occurred on the island.

Officials gave no explanation for a separate blast reported in the port city of Bandar Abbas.

The incidents come amid recurring reports of nighttime explosions across Iran since a cease-fire with the United States and Israel, which authorities often attribute to unexploded ordnance or air defense activity against drones.

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08:17

Iranian Foreign Minister Meets Chinese Counterpart In Beijing

• By

  RFE/RL's Radio Farda

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi (file photo)

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi met his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi, in Beijing on May 6, his first visit since the start of the US-Israeli war with Iran.

The talks come amid renewed tensions between Iran and the United States in the Persian Gulf and ahead of US President Donald Trumps planned visit to China next week.

Chinas state news agency Xinhua said Araqchi was in Beijing for a one-day visit, while Trump is due in the Chinese capital on May 1415 for talks with President Xi Jinping.

The meeting follows a recent surge in attacks in the Persian Gulf and a standoff over control of the Strait of Hormuz, developments that have threatened a fragile cease-fire between Tehran and Washington.

Against this backdrop, Trump said the US Navy would assist ships transiting the strait, although the operation was later suspended.

Early on May 6, he said significant progress had been made toward a comprehensive agreement with Tehran.

Araqchi also said the recent attacks in the Gulf, which came as Iran was considering Trumps proposal for talks, showed that the current crisis has no military solution.

On May 4, the US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent urged China to step up diplomatic efforts to persuade Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz to international shipping.

He added that the issue would be raised during Trumps upcoming meeting with Xi.

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07:45

Trump Says US Will Pause Operation To Guide Ships Through Hormuz Strait

• By

  RFE/RL

US President Donald Trump (file photo)

US President Donald Trump has announced that the operation called Project Freedom to guide ships through the Strait of Hormuz will be paused for a short period of time" after making "Great Progress....toward a Complete and Final Agreement with Representatives of Iran."

In apost on Truth Social on May 6, Trump said the decision was made at the request of Pakistan, which is mediating talks between the US and Iran, to see whether or not the Agreement can be finalized and signed. However, a US blockade of Iranian ports is to remain in place.

The US launched the so-called Project Freedom to restore commercial traffic through the Strait of Hormuz halted by Iran, leaving thousands of ships stranded on both sides of the strait for weeks and impacting the global economy.

Iran blocked transit through the crucial waterway threatening to target any vessels that attempted to pass through the strait without its consent in response to the US and Israeli military campaign against it, which was launched on February 28.

Trumps announcement followed a news conference by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, in which heannounced that US military campaignagainst Iran, called Epic Fury, has ended.

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22:59

5.5.2026

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.

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21:32

5.5.2026

Iran Denies Attacks On UAE, Warns Against Retaliation

• By

  RFE/RL's Radio Farda

Iran has denied that it carried out any attacks on the United Arab Emirates, while warning that it would deliver a crushing and regret-inducing response to any attack launched from UAE territory.

In a statement issued on May 5, the Khatam al-Anbiya Headquarters, which coordinates the military of the Islamic republic, said Irans armed forces had carried out no missile or drone operations against the UAE" in recent days, adding that "if any action had been taken, we would have announced it clearly and decisively."

The statement accused the UAE of becoming one of the main American and Zionist bases, and warned that if any action is taken from UAE territory against our islands, ports, or coasts, we will respond with a crushing and regret-inducing response.

The UAEs Defense Ministry said that the country had been targeted by Iranian missile and drone attacks on May 4 and May 5.