Middle East crisis live: US and Iran in blockade stalemate as Washington’s navy secretary leaves office ‘immediately’ | US-Israel war on Iran
important events
Iran’s Revolutionary Guard released video footage earlier today showing its forces seizing two ships in the Strait of Hormuz..
Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) He said he seized the ships for what he called maritime violations and escorted them to the Iranian coast, according to statements by shipping companies and Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency.
Iran is seizing ships for the first time since the war began at the end of February.
Tasnim said the IRGC accused two ships (Panamanian-flagged MSC Francesca and Liberian-flagged Epaminondas) of “attempting to sneak out of the Strait of Hormuz.”
White House spokesman Karoline Leavitt in question Donald Trump did not consider the seizure of the two container ships as a violation of the US-Iran ceasefire because the ships were not American or Israeli.
Leavit said:
No, because these were not US ships, these were not Israeli ships. “These were two international ships.”
Opening summary
Welcome to our live coverage of events in the Middle East.
Iran seized two ships in the Strait of Hormuz a day later Donald Trump While there is no sign that peace talks will restart, he announced that the USA has stopped its attacks indefinitely.
The status of the two-week ceasefire, which will end at the beginning of this week, remains unclear. Roughly a few hours after threatening a resumption of violence, Trump made what appeared to be a one-sided announcement Tuesday that the United States would extend the ceasefire with Tehran until Iran discussed its proposal to end the two-month war in peace talks.
But Iranian officials did not say they agreed to any extension of the ceasefire and criticized Trump’s decision to maintain the US Navy’s blockade of Iran’s maritime trade. Iranian chief negotiator Muhammad Bagher Galibaf He said a full ceasefire would only be meaningful if the blockade was lifted.
of Iran Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps On Wednesday, it seized two ships for maritime law violations and escorted them to the Iranian coast, according to shipping companies and Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency.
In other important developments:
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Trump is “pleased” with the US naval blockade and “understands that Iran is in a very weak position” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said: Trump said the US president had not set a deadline for Iran to submit a peace proposal, after he said on Tuesday that he would extend the ceasefire indefinitely at the request of mediator Pakistan until Tehran responds to US negotiating positions or talks are concluded “one way or another”.
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The Pentagon announced that US Navy Secretary John Phelan will leave his post “effective immediately.”without giving an explanation for his sudden exit. The US military’s top officer, Gen. Randy George, and two other senior officers were dismissed earlier this month over the ongoing war with Iran.
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Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan told his German counterpart that the US-Israeli war against Iran “is starting to weaken Europe.”. Erdogan said: “If we do not handle this situation with an approach that prioritizes peace, the damage caused by the conflict will be much greater.”
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Lebanese journalist Amal Khalil was killed and a photographer accompanying her was injured in Israeli attacks in southern LebanonA senior Lebanese military official and Khalil’s employer said: The death of 43-year-old Khalil reached five people on Wednesday; this was the deadliest day since the 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah was declared on April 16. There was no statement from the Israeli army regarding Khalil’s death.
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Khalil and freelance photographer Zeinab Faraj were monitoring developments near the town of al-Tayri Reuters reported that the Israeli attack hit the vehicle in front of them. The Lebanese health ministry said that they came across a house nearby and that this house was also the target of the Israeli attack. Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said Israel’s targeting of journalists and obstructing aid efforts constituted a war crime.
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Oil prices rose 4 percent on Thursday after Iran vowed not to reopen the Strait of Hormuz due to a U.S. naval blockade despite an extension of the ceasefire. Around 0025 GMT, US oil contract West Texas Intermediate (WTI) was up 4.06% to $96.73 per barrel, while international oil benchmark Brent North Sea crude was up 3.62% to $105.63 per barrel. Both were relieved minutes later.
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Two Palestinians, including a 14-year-old student, were killed when Israeli settlers opened fire near a school in the occupied West Bank. Eyewitnesses and local officials said that this situation occurred at a time when attacks on education were increasing in the region.
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United Airlines implemented broad-based increases in fares of 15-20% to offset the rise in oil prices while maintaining profits, executives said. The major US carrier has also reduced its 2026 flight capacity by 5%.
