Hey there from CNN. I'm David Rind with the five things you need to know from Monday, May 4th.

U.S. Central Command says two U.S. flag ships pass through the Strait of Hormuz today,

noting American forces are, quote, actively assisting efforts to restore transit for commercial shipping.

However, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard court claimed that no commercial vessels

or oil tankers had transit at the Strait of Hormuz, calling statements from U.S. officials

baseless and outright lies. This all comes not long after President Donald Trump announced

a plan to guide ships through the waterway, where Iran is attempting to control shipping.

It's unclear, though, if this plan will make shipping companies feel safe enough to

sail at a pace needed to bring down global oil prices.

And retired Admiral James DeVritus says it's unclear what kind of firepower would be needed

to provide that reassurance and make it stick.

To me, an escort would be, think basketball, it would be pretty close to a man-to-man

kind of defense. You'd put probably five merchants together, put a guided missile cruiser with

them, and you'd drive through the straight together to give them protection. Think one aircraft carrier,

two dozen guided missile destroyers, half a dozen,

frigates, 300 Air Force aircraft, 50 Army. It would take a lot of capacity to keep that straight open.

More news coming up, including Putin paranoia in Russia. Stick around.

Russia is holding its annual Victory Day parade this week in Moscow's Red Square. But this year's version will be pretty scaled back, no heavy weaponry such as armor

and missiles rolling down the streets.

It's just the latest sign that things are not going that great for Russia.

It has suffered losses on the battlefield in Ukraine,

and its economy is faltering back home. And now, new intelligence suggests Russian President

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