Secretary of State Marco Rubio testified before Congress, stating the Iranian navy is "at the bottom of the ocean" and will become "prime fishing spots." He also defended budget proposals and faced questions on the Iran war, drug interdiction operations, and Ebola response.
The Iranian Revolutionary Guard Navy reported that 25 vessels, including oil tankers and cargo ships, transited the Strait of Hormuz in the past 24 hours under Iranian naval protection and coordination, asserting continued control over the waterway.
Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has stated that ships entering the Strait of Hormuz must cooperate with the Iranian navy, amidst reports of a ship being seized near a UAE port. Iran claims the strait remains open for commercial ships under its naval oversight. This comes after the US imposed a counterblockade on Iranian ports, stranding thousands of ships. Araghchi, speaking at a Brics meeting in India, denounced US and Israeli actions, calling them violations of international law, and urged Brics nations to condemn these violations. He also warned the UAE that cooperation with Israel would not ensure protection. Meanwhile, a new UN Security Council resolution, sponsored by Bahrain and the US, condemning Iran's blockade is set for discussion, with Iran facing potential rebuff. However, Iran claims a deal with China has allowed oil tankers bound for China to pass through the strait since Wednesday, with China agreeing to limited charging, potentially undercutting US opposition.
The Iranian Navy intercepted two vessels—the Panama-flagged MSC Francesca and Liberia-flagged Epaminondas—in the Strait of Hormuz on April 22, seizing them for threatening maritime security and lacking appropriate permissions. The Epaminondas was bound for India's Mundra port from UAE's Jebel Ali. This occurs amid ongoing US-Iran tensions, with a ceasefire set to expire and Tehran rejecting Washington's unilateral extension.
According to the agency, the ship’s captain reported that the vessel was allegedly approached by the Iranian Navy
Two Indian-flagged tankers, Bhagya Lakshmi and Sanmar Herald, were denied passage and reportedly fired upon by Iranian gunboats in the Strait of Hormuz. Crew members of Bhagya Lakshmi were told to turn back, while Sanmar Herald reported being fired upon despite prior clearance. India has raised concerns with Iran over the safety of merchant shipping.
