US Central Command refutes media claims that several ships evaded the Strait of Hormuz blockade, providing details of US military interceptions and orders for vessels to return.
"We caught a ship yesterday that had some things on it, which wasn’t very nice. A gift from China perhaps, I don’t know, but I was a little surprised," Trump said during an interview with CNBC.
Iran's Revolutionary Guards seized two vessels, the MSC Francesca and Epaminodes, for operating without authorization and manipulating navigation systems, transferring them to Iranian shores.
Sa’ar: Hezbollah main obstacle to Israel-Lebanon normalization • IDF kills two Hezbollah terrorists after approaching troops in Lebanon • Houthis expected to resume Red Sea attacks
Iran has decided not to attend the second round of talks in Pakistan, Tasnim reported on Tuesday night.
The move comes as a two-week ceasefire announced by US President Donald Trump is due to end in the coming days.
"I would greatly appreciate the release of these women," Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social. "I am sure that they will respect the fact that you did so. Please do them no harm!"
Reza Dindar, a 44-year-old Iranian, faces a nine-count indictment in Seattle for attempting to evade US trade sanctions on Iran by using third countries like China for illegal exports.
Trump told CNBC that he believes the US is “going to end up with a great deal” with Iran to end the weeks-long war, saying "they have no choice."
The Pentagon confirmed a US military boarding of the stateless M/T Tifani, a vessel tied to Iranian smuggling activity, as part of global maritime enforcement efforts to disrupt illicit networks.
A two-week ceasefire between Iran and the US is set to expire on Wednesday. The two countries have accused each other of breaching the ceasefire.
