Overview
- President Trump said Thursday he told the U.S. Navy to shoot and kill any small boats laying mines in the Strait of Hormuz, escalating rules for how forces counter mining threats in the chokepoint.
- The Pentagon disclosed Thursday that U.S. forces boarded the stateless tanker M/T Majestic X in the Indian Ocean, saying the ship was carrying Iranian oil as part of a wider blockade enforcement effort.
- Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said Wednesday they seized the MSC Francesca and the Epaminondas in the strait, and an Iranian parliamentary deputy said initial revenue from new transit tolls had reached the central bank.
- Trump extended the ceasefire without an end date while keeping the naval blockade in place, with U.S. Central Command reporting dozens of vessels ordered to turn back and Pakistan’s push for new talks still stalled.
- Pressure is building on operations and markets, with CSIS analysts estimating key U.S. missiles will take one to four years to replenish, a mine‑clearance timeline of up to six months reported then disputed by the Pentagon, and oil above $100 lifting fuel costs for consumers worldwide.