US forces on Monday launched an effort to guide commercial ships through the Strait of Hormuz, where hundreds have been stuck since the Iran war began.Two American-flagged merchant ships have “successfully transited” through the critical waterway, the US military said. Separately, the US military denied Iran’s claims that it struck an American Navy vessel southeast of the strait.Meanwhile, the United Arab Emirates on Monday said an Iranian drone sparked a fire at an oil facility in Fujairah, a key pipeline hub used to bypass the Strait of Hormuz. Shortly after the report, the British military said a cargo ship off the coast of the Emirates was ablaze. The UAE issued its first three missile alerts on Monday since the shaky ceasefire between Iran and the US took hold almost four weeks ago.Iran handed over its latest proposal for negotiations with the US to mediators in Pakistan, Iran’s state-run IRNA news agency reported Friday. US President Donald Trump subsequently said he’s “not satisfied” with it, but did not elaborate on the proposal’s apparent shortcomings. The shaky ceasefire between the US and Iran has lasted for three weeks.Here’s the latest:Tehran doesn’t outright confirm or deny the attacksBut early on Tuesday, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on X that both the US and the UAE “should be wary of being dragged back into quagmire.”In similarly vague terms, Iranian state television earlier quoted an anonymous military official as saying Tehran had had “no plan” to target the UAE or one of its oil fields.“The incident resulted from US military adventurism to create an illegal passage,” the official was quoted as saying about the oil facility attack, apparently referring to Trump’s latest efforts to reopen the strait, a critical waterway for global energy.UAE says over a dozen missiles, drones launched from IranThe United Arab Emirates said it had engaged a number of missiles and drones launched from Iran on Monday.In an update posted on X, the defence ministry said its air defence systems engaged 12 ballistic missiles, three cruise missiles and four drones. The attacks moderately injured three people.Oman says a residential building was targettedA residential building housing employees in Oman was targeted Monday, officials said, though did not provide details of the incident.The defence ministry said in a statement on X, citing an unidentified security source, that the building housed workers of a company in the Tibat district of the town of Bukha. Two foreigners were moderately injured, four vehicles were damaged and windows in a nearby house were shattered.Bukha is a town on Oman’s Musandam peninsula, an enclave on the southern edge of the Strait of Hormuz that is separated from the rest of the sultanate.Authorities did not say whether the incident was the result of an attack or identify its source, adding that an investigation is underway.US, Gulf states to propose diplomatic measure for safe passage over Strait of HormuzUS envoy to the UN Mike Waltz told reporters Monday that the US will be co-drafting a Security Council resolution with Bahrain and its Gulf allies that would “hold Iran to account” for its monthslong chokehold over the critical waterway.The unreleased draft would require Iran to stop laying sea mines in the strait and halt all tolling efforts. It would also require the disclosure of the number and locations of the mines it has placed. It’s unclear what enforcement mechanism, if any, the resolution will have to ensure any of these demands.But it is the latest diplomatic effort by the US and its Gulf allies after a similar resolution was vetoed by China and Russia hours before a temporary ceasefire was announced in early April.Hegseth and Caine to hold news conference, says TrumpDefence Secretary Pete Hegseth and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen Dan Caine, will hold a news conference on Tuesday, Trump said in a social media post on Monday.Trump released no other details. But the news conference will come a day after the US military launched an effort to defend commercial ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz from Iranian attacks.Trump urges South Korea to send ships to Strait of HormuzPresident Donald Trump has urged South Korea to “come and join the mission” in the Strait of Hormuz, where the US military is defending commercial ships from Iran.Trump said in a social media post that Iran had “taken some shot” at a South Korean cargo ship, though did not elaborate.UN reiterates need for freedom of navigation in Strait of Hormuz but opposes military activityUN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said the United Nations is “still trying to fully understand” exactly what US statements saying the vital Strait of Hormuz is open.Reports of an exchange of fire in the strait, which had carried about 20 per cent of the world’s crude oil and the United Arab Emirates intercepting Iranian missiles are “concerning,” he said.“There’s not much clarity at this point, but what we do not want to see is a return to outright kinetic activity in this area,” Dujarric said.“We need to see a return of what has been centuries of practice of common law, which is freedom of navigation in these waters,” he told U.N. reporters on Monday.Israel closely watching developments in GulfIsrael’s military is closely monitoring the developments in the Gulf and remains on high alert, according to a military official who spoke on the condition of anonymity in line with military guidelines.The official added that there are currently no changes expected in guidelines for Israel’s civilians, including limitations on the size of gatherings, that are implemented during times of war.Melanie Lidman Cooper does not offer details about whether US was protecting sites that came under Iranian attack    Asked whether the US was protecting sites in the United Arab Emirates that came under Iranian attack, Cooper said he didn’t want to go into details.The head of US Central Command told reporters Monday that the “UAE has exceptional capability. They’re well-positioned to defend themselves.”Authorities in the eastern emirate of Fujairah said an Iranian drone sparked a fire at a key oil facility, wounding three Indian nationals. The British military also reported two cargo vessels ablaze off the UAE.Cooper says the Fujairah attack was “under their national jurisdiction” and not part of the new American effort to get commercial ships moving through the Strait of Hormuz.UAE airspace nearly empty as warning sirens blare The airspace over the UAE was nearly empty Monday night as the country faced multiple sirens warning of incoming drones, according to the flight tracking website FlightRadar24.Just days ago, the airport, which is among the world’s busiest, had announced it had mostly returned to full operations.UAE condemns Iranian attacksThe United Arab Emirates condemned what it called “renewed treacherous Iranian aggression” targeting civilian sites that left three people injured, and called for an immediate halt to the attacks.“These attacks represent a dangerous escalation and an unacceptable violation,” the UAE’s foreign ministry said in a statement on X, adding that the UAE reserves the right to respond in a way that protects its sovereignty and security.Cooper says Iran initiated aggressive behavior’ in Strait of Hormuz     In his call with reporters, Cooper declined to say whether the ceasefire between Iran and the US was over or not, but noted that it was Iran that “initiated aggressive behavior” in the Strait of Hormuz on Monday.Cooper said the US military is serving as a defensive force “to give a very clear defence to commercial shipping, to allow them to proceed out of the Arabian Gulf.”   “That’s what we’re focused on,” Cooper said. “What we saw this morning was Iran initiating aggressive behaviors. We are simply going to respond to that.”US military clears pathway in Strait of Hormuz that is free of Iranian mines    Cooper said the US military has been able to clear a pathway in the Strait of Hormuz that is free of any Iranian mines in an effort to allow commercial vessels to transit the narrow waterway.Cooper said US military also has set up a “defensive umbrella” that includes American helicopters and fighter planes to protect the freighters leaving the strait.US military says it sunk 6 Iranian small boats that were targeting civilian vessels Adm. Brad Cooper, who heads US Central Command, said US military helicopters have sunk six Iranian small boats that were targeting civilian vessels in the Strait of Hormuz.It is the latest test of the ceasefire between Iran and the USUS military says Iran has launched missiles, drones and small boats at ships the US is protecting in Strait of Hormuz   Iran has launched multiple cruise missiles, drones and small boats at ships the US military is protecting, a top commander said Monday.Adm. Brad Cooper, the head of US Central Command, said during a news conference that “each and every one” of the threats had been defeated.Three Indian nationals injured in Fujairah attack, says authorities    Authorities in Fujairah said an Iranian drone that sparked a fire at an oil facility left three Indian nationals injured.The authorities said in a statement they suffered medium wounds and were transferred to the hospital.