Iran Strengthens Control Over Strait of Hormuz as Israel Signals Readiness for Renewed Attacks
DUBAI/CAIRO/WASHINGTON: Iran has showcased its enhanced control over the Strait of Hormuz, releasing footage of commandos boarding a large cargo ship. This incident follows the breakdown of peace negotiations that the United States had hoped would facilitate access to one of the world’s most critical shipping routes.
U.S. President Donald Trump characterized the threat from Iran’s naval forces as minimal, referring to them as “little-wise-guy ships.” He expressed his belief that Tehran is interested in negotiating but acknowledged internal strife within its leadership. Trump indicated he was not in a rush for a deal, stating, “I’ll finish it up militarily” if necessary.
Iranian state media aired video of masked troops in a gray speedboat approaching the MSC Francesca, climbing aboard, and brandishing rifles. The footage, devoid of commentary and set to an action-movie soundtrack, also featured another vessel, the Epaminondas. Iran claimed both ships were seized for attempting to navigate the strait without proper authorization.
This seizure serves as a reminder of the challenges the United States faces in maintaining control over the Strait of Hormuz, despite its superior military capabilities. While U.S. officials have asserted that Iran’s navy is “at the bottom of the sea,” Tehran has demonstrated its ability to disrupt oil markets. Prior to the conflict, approximately 20% of global oil and liquefied natural gas passed through this vital corridor.
On Thursday evening, air defense systems in Tehran reportedly engaged “hostile targets,” according to Iran’s Mehr news agency, leading to a spike in oil prices. Concurrently, U.S. stock markets experienced volatility, influenced by ongoing developments in the conflict, while the dollar strengthened.
Iran’s Fars news agency later reported that defense systems across Tehran and other cities responded to the presence of small drones and micro-UAVs, including the ‘Orbiter’ type. The origin of these drones remains unclear.
The conflict, which began with U.S. and Israeli military actions on February 28, has been on hold since a ceasefire was established on April 8. However, Israel indicated its readiness to resume military operations. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz stated that the country awaits a “green light” from the U.S. to restart attacks, asserting that such actions would target Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei and aim to “return Iran to a dark age.” He warned that any renewed assault would be “different and deadly,” delivering significant blows to critical locations.
Struggle for the Strait
Tehran has made it clear that it will not consider reopening the strait until the U.S. lifts its blockade on Iranian shipping, which Iran deems a violation of the ceasefire. Trump recently announced an indefinite extension of the ceasefire, initially set for two weeks, to facilitate further negotiations. However, he also ordered the Navy to “shoot and kill” Iranian boats laying mines in the strait and to enhance demining operations.
In a social media post, Trump claimed that the U.S. is in “total control” of the strait, describing it as “Sealed up Tight” until Iran is willing to negotiate. He later stated that while Iran may have increased its military capabilities during the ceasefire, the U.S. military could neutralize those threats in about a day. He emphasized his desire for a long-term agreement, stating, “I want to make the best deal. I could make a deal right now… but I don’t want to do that. I want to have it everlasting.”
Iranian officials have dismissed Trump’s assertions of discord within their leadership. Supreme Leader Khamenei stated on social media that “enemy” media efforts are aimed at undermining national unity and security.
The U.S. has been actively confronting Iranian vessels in international waters to enforce its blockade. On Thursday, U.S. forces boarded another tanker, the Majestic, in the Indian Ocean, reportedly linked to a supertanker last seen off the coast of Sri Lanka carrying two million barrels of crude oil. The U.S. military reported that it has redirected 33 vessels since the blockade commenced.
Iran’s judiciary chief, Gholamhossein Mohseni-Ejei, stated that the seized merchant vessels have “faced the law.” Meanwhile, Iranian speedboats and marine drones are reportedly sheltering in sea caves off an island, preventing U.S. Navy approaches.
The vice speaker of Iran’s parliament, Hamidreza Hajibabaei, announced that the first revenue from a toll imposed on ships using the strait has been transferred to the central bank, although details regarding the payments remain undisclosed.
Currently, there has been no formal extension of the ceasefire, nor have any plans for further negotiations been made public. Pakistan, which hosted talks earlier this month and was preparing for a second round before it was called off, remains in contact with both parties. However, Iranian officials have yet to commit to attending due to the ongoing U.S. blockade.
Recent surveys indicate that the global economy is increasingly feeling the effects of the energy crisis stemming from the conflict, as factories face rising production costs and activity declines across various sectors.
Source: www.zawya.com
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Published on 2026-04-24 08:39:00 • By the Editorial Desk
