The President of the United States, Donald Trump, has ordered his military this Thursday to "shoot and destroy" any vessel, no matter how small, attempting to mine the Strait of Hormuz. Trump has stated that the Strait is controlled by the United States and that Iran is struggling to find a leader.
Iran, on the other hand, seized two ships in the Strait of Hormuz while strengthening its control over this strategic maritime route, after the President of the United States, Donald Trump, announced an indefinite suspension of attacks, with no signs of peace talks resuming.
The status of an existing ceasefire for two weeks, which was set to expire earlier this week, remained uncertain.
In a sudden change of stance, hours after threatening to resume violence, Trump made what seemed like a unilateral announcement on Tuesday: the United States would extend the ceasefire until discussing in peace talks an Iranian proposal to end the war, which has been ongoing for two months.
However, Iranian officials did not indicate accepting any extension of the truce and criticized Trump's decision to maintain the US Navy blockade on Iranian maritime trade, considered by Tehran as an act of war.
Trump Asserts that the United States Has Total Control of the Strait of Hormuz
President Donald Trump, without providing evidence, declared on Thursday that the United States had "total control" over the Strait of Hormuz and that it remained "hermetically sealed" until Iran reaches an agreement, as reported by Reuters.
Trump made this statement on his Truth Social network. "Iran is having a very hard time deciding who their leader is! They just don't know! The internal struggle between the 'hard-liners,' who have been losing badly on the battlefield, and the 'moderates,' who are not moderate at all (but are gaining respect!), is crazy! We have total control of the Strait of Hormuz. No ship can enter or leave without the approval of the US Navy. It is 'hermetically sealed' until Iran reaches an agreement. Thank you for your attention to this matter. President DONALD J. TRUMP," the message reads.
Trump Orders US Navy to Destroy Any Ship Attempting to Mine the Strait of Hormuz
Trump orders the US Navy to destroy ships attempting to mine the Strait of Hormuz, as reported by AFP. "I have ordered the United States Navy to shoot and destroy any vessel, no matter how small (its 159 warships are at the bottom of the sea!), that lays mines in the waters of the Strait of Hormuz. There will be no hesitation. Additionally, our minesweepers are clearing the Strait at this very moment. I hereby order them to continue these efforts, but at three times the intensity!" Trump wrote on his social network.
Iran's Embassy in Italy Responds to Trump: "Football Belongs to the People, Not Politicians"
Iran's Embassy in Italy stated on Thursday that "football belongs to the people, not politicians," in response to the request from an envoy of US President Donald Trump to FIFA to replace the Iranian national team with the Italian team in the upcoming World Cup, as reported by Efe.
"Football belongs to the people, not politicians. Italy has achieved football greatness on the field, not thanks to political privileges," stated the diplomatic mission in a message posted on its official social media account on X.
US Intercepts and Boards Iranian Oil Tanker in the Indian Ocean
The United States Navy intercepted and boarded a sanctioned oil tanker carrying Iranian crude in the Indian Ocean, reported the US Department of War on Thursday, which maintains a naval blockade off the coasts of the Islamic Republic.
"During the night, US forces conducted a maritime interdiction and boarding under the right of visit of the sanctioned vessel M/T Majestic X, without a flag, transporting oil from Iran, in the Indian Ocean within the area of responsibility of Indopacom" (Indo-Pacific Command), the Pentagon published on X, as reported by Efe.
Exiled Iranian Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi Sprayed with Red Liquid in Berlin
Exiled Iranian Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi was sprayed with red liquid on Thursday as he left a building in Berlin. Pahlavi had just finished a press conference, during which he criticized the ceasefire between the United States and Iran, when the incident occurred outside the Federal Press Conference building in Germany, reported Ap.
The liquid covered his back and neck. Pahlavi greeted his supporters before getting into a car and leaving the scene. The police indicated that the liquid appeared to be tomato juice. The alleged perpetrator, whose identity was not revealed in accordance with German privacy regulations, was immediately detained by the police.
Pahlavi, with red liquid on his neck.
US Claims Its Military Seized Another Tanker Associated with Iran
The United States military seized another tanker linked to the smuggling of Iranian oil on Thursday, escalating the confrontation with Iran a day after its paramilitary Revolutionary Guards took control of two ships in the strategic Strait of Hormuz.
The Department of Defense released video footage of US forces on the deck of the Majestic X tanker, which was intercepted in the Indian Ocean.
"We will continue to enforce global maritime law to dismantle illicit networks and intercept vessels providing material support to Iran, wherever they operate," a statement from the Pentagon said.
Maritime tracking data showed the Majestic X in the Indian Ocean, between Sri Lanka and Indonesia, approximately in the same area as the tanker Tifani, previously intercepted by US forces. The vessel was heading to Zhoushan, China.
Germany Urges Iran to Seize the Opportunity of the Ceasefire Extension
The German government welcomed on Thursday the extension of the ceasefire between US and Iran, urging Tehran to seize this opportunity to end its military nuclear program, stop threatening Israel and other neighboring countries, and reopen the Strait of Hormuz without restrictions or fees.
The extension of the ceasefire "opens an important opportunity to continue diplomatic negotiations in Islamabad to achieve peace and avoid an escalation of the conflict," emphasized the coalition government led by conservative Friedrich Merz in a statement.
"If a comprehensive agreement is reached, the government is willing, along with its partners, to gradually ease the existing restrictive measures" against Tehran, assured the Executive.
The US Central Command (CENTCOM) indicated on Wednesday night that it had also "ordered 31 ships to turn around or return to port" as part of its own "blockade against Iran."
It noted on X that "most of the ships have complied with the US instructions."
Reza Pahlavi Calls for Resuming "Humanitarian Intervention" in Iran and Criticizes the Ceasefire
Reza Pahlavi, heir to the deposed Iranian Shah in 1979 by the Islamic Revolution, called on Thursday for the resumption of what he described as "humanitarian intervention" by the US in his home country, and criticized the current ceasefire for offering a respite to a regime in Tehran with which, in his view, it makes no sense to negotiate.
"It is a golden opportunity, the regime has never been as fragile as it is now," he stated at a press conference in Berlin, lamenting that the temporary cessation of attacks could confuse those who were considering deserting the state apparatus and thus halt the collapse process that, according to him, is taking place.