The Headline
IRGC releases video of cargo ship seizures
Key Facts
- Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has released video claiming forces boarding and seizing two cargo ships intercepted in the Strait of Hormuz.
- 15 seafarers were confirmed to be on the vessels being held by Iran's Revolutionary Guard, who reported they were safe and unharmed.
- The U.K. military's Maritime Trade Operations Center (UKMTO) reported incidents involving three cargo ships in the Strait of Hormuz, while the IRGC claimed to have seized two of them.
- White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt explained why President Donald Trump does not consider Iran's seizure of two ships in the Strait of Hormuz a violation of the ceasefire agreement.
- Leavitt stated, "No, because these were not U.S. ships. These were not Israeli ships. These were two international vessels."
- Leavitt criticized the media's portrayal of the situation, saying, "these two ships were taken by from having the most lethal Navy in the Middle East to now acting like a bunch of pirates."
- She described the situation as "piracy that we are seeing on display" and emphasized the effectiveness of the U.S. naval blockade.
- Leavitt clarified that while there is a ceasefire for military actions, "Operation Economic Fury continues" focused on maintaining economic pressure on Iran.