Blockade

A new operation name could allow the Trump administration to distinguish renewed strikes from Operation Epic Fury, NBC reported.

Iranian lawmakers have said they are drafting a bill to formalize Iran's management of the Strait of Hormuz, with clauses including forbidding passage to vessels of "hostile states."

The U.S. imposed sanctions on Thursday on Iraq's deputy oil minister and militias over support for Iran, the Treasury Department said.

“The leadership has gotten more radical, determined, and increasingly confident they can outlast US political will and sustain domestic repression to check any resistance,” one US official said.

The vessel's commission suggests that Iran’s energy sector and oil storage capacity are facing a crisis, as the US Navy continues to block the passage of tankers carrying Iranian oil out of the Gulf.

The Iranian-flagged oil tanker was struck by 20 mm cannon fire from a jet launched by the US Navy, US CENTCOM said on Wednesday. 

Tehran continues to condition any discussion of its nuclear program on ending the war, lifting the blockade, and the withdrawal of US forces, meaning the core obstacle remains unresolved.

According to Pentagon officials, over 40 vessels carrying oil and other contraband have been redirected by the US military since the blockade began on April 13th. 

Khamenei reiterated that Iran will defend its nuclear and missile technologies, accusing the US of causing instability in the Persian Gulf and vowing to expel foreign forces.

Trump told Newsmax that while Iran's military is heavily damaged, only a guarantee against nuclear development will secure a lasting peace, calling for stronger global action.