By Isabella McHugh
Staff Writer
The United States seized an Iranian tanker transporting oil from Iran in the Indian Ocean one day after Iran attacked three ships and seized two on April 23, according to the AP News.
The recent conflict intensified maritime hostility and has closed off the Strait of Hormuz as a trading route, NBC reported.
The Department of Defense published a video showing U.S. troops aboard the oil tanker Majestic X after it was captured in the Indian Ocean, AP News reported.
“We will continue global maritime enforcement to disrupt illicit networks and interdict vessels providing material support to Iran, wherever they operate,” The Pentagon said in a statement, according to AP News.
The Pentagon also warned international vessels not to aid Iran, stating, “International waters cannot be used as a shield by sanctioned actors,” and added that “the department would continue to deny illicit actors and their vessels freedom of maneuver in the maritime domain,” according to the New York Times.
President Donald Trump recently voiced the order to “shoot and kill any boat” laying mines in the Strait, according to his Truth Social post.
He further wrote, “There is to be no hesitation,” and that the U.S. “mine ‘sweepers’ are clearing the Strait right now.”
Trump extended the truce before it expired according to the New York Times. However, the recent naval operations have put pressure on that peace, according to The Washington Post.
Iran thought the ceasefire to be pointless since the U.S. was still continuing its naval blockade which violated the deal. Iran also refused to negotiate until the blockade is lifted, according to NPR.
Trump also told Fox News on April 22 that there was “no time pressure” to settle a truce or find dates to discuss ending the war, according to NPR.
The forensics chief of Iran said close to 3,400 people were killed in the country since the U.S. and Israel opened fire on Feb. 28, NBC news reported. Over 2,200 people were killed in Lebanon, the source also wrote.
Israeli strikes in Lebanon this week killed several people, including journalist Amal Khalil. In response, Hezbollah launched attacks in southern Lebanon, according to Reuters.
As tensions rise, Israel is also reportedly coordinating with Lebanon’s government against Hezbollah and has warned it may expand the conflict, potentially resuming military action against Iran.
Israel and Lebanon “ambassador-level talks” were scheduled for April 23, according to the New York Times.
In the U.S., concern over gas prices continues due to the war with Iran. Trump announced that Americans should prepare to be paying higher gas prices “for a little while,” and did not give a specific time frame, according to CNBC.
When questioned about the war’s length, Trump told reporters “I have to be honest, the stock market is at an all-time high right now. I thought it would have been down 20, 25%.”
A nationwide survey of 1,000 participants found that almost 80% of people “changed their spending habits” due to the high gas prices.
