Iran declared it would not reopen the Strait of Hormuz as long as the United States upholds its naval blockade, escalating tensions on Thursday. Although regional strikes have mostly ceased during the truce, economic pressure remains intense as both nations flex their leverage.
Earlier this week, President Donald Trump announced an indefinite extension of the ceasefire to facilitate peace talks in Pakistan. While Tehran welcomed these diplomatic efforts, officials remain adamant that the naval blockade constitutes a blatant violation of the agreement.
“A complete ceasefire only has meaning if it is not violated through a naval blockade,” stated Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf. He further clarified that reopening the vital waterway is impossible during such a violation.
Conflicting Reports and Seizures
Tensions escalated further when the Revolutionary Guards seized two commercial vessels, the MSC Francesca and the Epaminondas, in the strait. Panama’s foreign ministry condemned the seizure of the MSC Francesca, calling the move a serious attack on maritime security. Meanwhile, UK-based monitors confirmed that Iranian gunboats fired upon at least one container ship, causing damage to the vessel’s bridge.
President Trump suggested that talks might resume within days, though Vice President JD Vance has paused his travel plans. Additionally, the White House claimed Iran halted the execution of eight female protesters at the president’s specific request. However, the Iranian judiciary quickly dismissed these claims as “false news,” asserting that the women never faced death sentences.
Naval Leadership Shifts
CENTCOM reported that US forces have already directed 31 vessels to turn around since the start of the blockade. The US Navy continues to block all ships heading to Iranian ports to ramp up pressure on the local economy.
In a surprising development, the Pentagon announced that Secretary of the Navy John Phelan would leave his post immediately. This sudden departure follows a string of removals under the leadership of the combative Pentagon chief, Pete Hegseth. Both nations now accuse each other of breaching the ceasefire as the world watches the essential oil gateway.
