Australia announced the start of a new military partnership to protect airspace and maritime security in the Middle East, deploying advanced "AWACS" aircraft to ensure freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz and the security of international trade.
The Kuwaiti Ministry of Interior announced the arrest of four members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps who were attempting to enter Kuwait by sea. The Kuwaiti Ministry of Foreign Affairs subsequently summoned the Iranian ambassador to discuss the matter.
The Mizan News Agency, the media outlet of the Islamic Republic's judiciary, announced that Ehsan Afrashteh, a political prisoner from Isfahan, has been sentenced to death on charges of "espionage and intelligence cooperation in favor of Israel." Afrashteh, a civil engineer with expertise in networking and information technology, was arrested in March/April 2024 upon returning to Iran from Turkey.
The American PEN Association's "Freedom to Write Index" report stated that Iran is the world's second-largest prison for writers, with 53 writers currently detained, a 23 percent increase from the previous year. The report also noted that women make up 32 percent of imprisoned writers in Iran, the highest globally.
Republican Senator Team Sheehy criticized Pakistan in an interview with Fox News for allowing the deployment of Iranian military aircraft, warning that Iran's nuclear program and proxy forces must be neutralized and that Tehran poses a threat to the Strait of Hormuz.
The United Arab Emirates conducted secret military strikes on targets in Iran, though specific locations and casualty details were not provided.
Twenty Democratic and Republican members of the U.S. House of Representatives wrote a letter to the British government urging it to expedite legislation designating the IRGC as a "terrorist" organization. The letter, initiated by Representatives Brad Sherman and Claudia Tenney, calls on Britain to take action against the IRGC for its alleged involvement in global terrorism and repression of civilians.
On May 9, F/A-18 Super Hornets and EA-18G Growlers launched from the USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) as it transited the Arabian Sea.
Saudi Arabia conducted secret military strikes against Iran in retaliation for attacks on the kingdom, according to Reuters reporting.
The New York Times reports that according to classified U.S. intelligence assessments from early this month, Iran has regained access to most of its missile sites, launchers, and underground facilities, with estimates indicating operational access to 30 out of 33 missile sites along the Strait of Hormuz and about 90 percent of its underground missile sites being partially or fully operational.
Fateme Mohajerani, spokesperson for the Pezeshkian government, stated that the internet is a right of the Iranian people and their anger over the prolonged outage is justified, but blamed external enemies for the disruptions. She also called on the media to support the government's narrative that it backs free internet access.
Mike Waltz, the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, posted on X that Ebrahim Azizi, an Iranian member of parliament, threatened to permanently close the Strait of Hormuz, targeting regional countries and international shipping, in response to diplomatic actions by the UN Security Council. Waltz emphasized the need for a Security Council resolution against Iran due to such threats.
The Senate Republicans' page on X stated that as long as the Islamic Republic of Iran does not abandon its nuclear ambitions, former President Trump will use America's power to sever the financial resources of Iran's assassination machine. The post also criticized the JCPOA, alleging that while Iran was developing missiles to threaten U.S. allies, the Democrats were sending financial support to Iran.
Reuters reports that Saudi Arabia conducted secret retaliatory airstrikes on Iran in late March 2026.
Sources indicate that Saudi Arabia conducted covert strikes against Iran during the war period. Specific locations and casualty figures were not provided in the report.
The mother of Mohammad Hossein Askari, a protester in the 2025-2026 Iranian revolution, mourns the loss of her son, who was among those demanding freedom and democracy.
Al Jazeera reported, citing diplomatic sources, that 112 countries have joined a draft resolution in the UN Security Council presented by the United States and Gulf countries to address freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz. India, Japan, and most European countries are among the supporters of this resolution.
According to a report, the United Arab Emirates conducted retaliatory strikes against Iran both before and after a ceasefire, with one strike carried out in coordination with Israel.
President Donald J. Trump accused the media of treason for reporting positively on Iran's military capabilities, claiming that Iran's navy, air force, technology, and leadership have been completely destroyed, leaving the country in economic ruin.
The United Arab Emirates conducted secret attacks against Iran's Lavan Island refinery, targeting the facility during operations against the Islamic regime, according to a report.
