US Boards Sanctioned Iranian Oil Ship
The US has reported that its forces boarded a sanctioned vessel carrying Iranian oil in the Indian Ocean, marking the country’s latest naval action concerning Iran. The US Department of Defense (DoD) stated it conducted a “maritime interdiction”—the interception or inspection of a vessel by a navy on ships suspected of being hostile or violating the law—on the M/T Majestic X. This interception follows the US imposing a blockade on maritime traffic entering and leaving Iranian ports on April 13, leading to multiple ship interceptions.
Trump’s Warning on Strait of Hormuz
The latest incident coincides with President Donald Trump’s order to the US Navy to “shoot and kill” any vessel laying mines in the critical shipping channel of the Strait of Hormuz. Under the blockade, US Central Command (Centcom) reported ordering 33 vessels to return to port. The DoD affirmed its intent to continue stopping ships suspected of “providing material support to Iran—anywhere they operate.” Iran previously characterized a US ship interception earlier this week as “piracy.”
Trump’s strategy aims to pressure Tehran by targeting the country’s oil revenues and tolls that Tehran stated it collected from ships for free navigation through the strait. Speaking at a White House event on Thursday, he declared the blockade “100% effective,” asserting that Iran is “getting no business.” Trump also claimed to have rejected an Iranian offer to reopen the strait three days prior, stating, “it will open when we make a deal.”
On Thursday, Hamidreza Haji Bababei, the deputy speaker of the Iranian Parliament, claimed that the initial revenues from tolls imposed on ships using the vital waterway had been deposited with Iran’s Central Bank. No further details were provided regarding the toll amount, collection method, or payers. The BBC could not independently verify this claim.
The US has maintained its naval blockade despite Trump extending a two-week ceasefire, requested by mediator Pakistan. Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, who led the first round of peace negotiations, stated that reopening the strait is “not possible” due to the blockade and what he termed other ceasefire violations. Writing on Truth Social on Thursday, Trump asserted that US forces have “total control” of the Strait of Hormuz, while claiming Iranians are “having a very hard time figuring out who their leader is.”
A day prior, Iran’s navy reported seizing two cargo ships in the strait and taking them to the country’s coast, following reports that three vessels came under fire from Iranian forces. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)-affiliated Fars News Agency stated the IRGC was responsible for the attacks. BBC Verify analyzed footage shared by the IRGC, purportedly showing Iranian soldiers seizing the two ships. The analysis found that while the two vessels—MSC Francesca and the Epaminondas—are clearly identifiable, aerial shots appear to have been filmed several hours after the reported initial attack. Greek authorities denied the Epaminondas was seized, stating its captain remains in control. However, the transponders of both vessels have been switched off.
On Thursday, Trump reiterated his order to the US Navy to “shoot and kill” boats laying mines in the Strait of Hormuz. “There is to be no hesitation,” he stated in a social media post, adding that US mine “sweepers” are clearing the strait “right now.” This update comes as the Pentagon dismissed reports suggesting US forces might require six months to remove any mines in the shipping lane. “One assessment does not mean the assessment is plausible, and a six-month closure of the Strait of Hormuz is an impossibility and completely unacceptable to the Secretary,” Pentagon Chief Spokesman Sean Parnell told the BBC.
In a phone interview with the BBC’s North America editor Sarah Smith, Trump claimed Iran is “dying to make a deal,” adding his stance “seems to be working very well.” The US president announced on Tuesday an extension of the ceasefire with Iran, aiming to allow the regime more time to create a “unified proposal” to end the conflict. He did not specify the ceasefire’s duration. Writing on Truth Social on Thursday, he disputed reports of being “anxious” to end the conflict, stating that while he has “all the time in the World…Iran doesn’t – The clock is ticking!”
Despite the conflict’s impact on Iran’s struggling economy, including significant redundancies and a plunge in consumer spending, Tehran has shown little sign of backing down. Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated on X that the country is “united, more than ever before.” Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Ghalibaf issued similar statements, describing Iran’s “iron unity.”
The conflict began when the US and Israel attacked Iran on February 28. Israel’s Defense Minister, Israel Katz, stated on Thursday that his country stands ready to resume hostilities and return Iran “to the dark and stone ages.” Katz added that Israel is “waiting for the green light from the US…to complete the elimination of the Khamenei dynasty.”
#USIranTensions #StraitOfHormuz #IranianOil #MaritimeSecurity #TrumpOrders #NavalBlockade #MiddleEast #InternationalRelations #Geopolitics #IranEconomy
Leave a Reply