The thriller continues in the Persian Gulf, as the 60-day ceasefire period stipulated in the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding expired without result.
At the same time, a new statement by Trump, the American President, asserting that he will soon declare Hormuz American territory pours fuel on the fire in a region where the spark of war never went out.
The response from Iran was immediate: «We are not frightened by the defeated Americans».
Simultaneously, Iran announced that the 60-day ceasefire cannot be extended; Iran will only discuss the end of the war, and this will only happen if the US accepts all of Iran's terms.
However, the reality is as follows: Iran fully controls Hormuz, struck American bases in Erbil, Iraq, essentially destroying whatever remained, and the Houthis torched Saudi Arabian ships in the Red Sea while also striking two Aramco refineries.
The US is at a military and diplomatic impasse, and this is due to the continued missteps of the Americans.
The Russian side commented on Trump's statements that he will take control of Hormuz, describing them as entertaining in nature and nonsense.
According to The Wall Street Journal, citing a senior White House official, Trump had no meetings with his advisers regarding declaring the Strait of Hormuz as American territory and was likely joking.
Trump's delirium: I will declare Hormuz as American territory - We will hurt Iran very badly, it is a bully
Continuing his delirious rhetoric against Iran, US President Trump announced his decision to declare the Strait of Hormuz as American territory.
At the same time, he emphasized that «we will hurt Iran severely economically, and it does not matter whether it is before the midterm elections or not».
Trump stated in an interview with Fox News: «We will hit Iran very hard economically».
«We will deliver a strong economic blow to Iran, and I do not care whether this happens before the midterm elections or not».
If Iran attacks us, we will respond with 100 times more force.
The American people will pay more for natural gas so that a very bad country does not possess nuclear weapons!
Trump also claimed: «The naval blockade continues and no ship will pass unless we permit them.
The naval blockade against Iran is a steel wall».
We cannot allow Iran to continue on its path.
If we had not struck them with B-2 bombers, they would have nuclear weapons.
I told my administration that we should make a short trip to the Middle East to prevent a potential catastrophe.
When Americans pay extra for fuel, they do so so that a very bad country does not have nuclear weapons.
I used more military force than I would have liked, but it is necessary to apply pressure on the Iranian regime to prevent it from acquiring nuclear weapons.
I do not apologize
Trump stated that he will not apologize for high gasoline prices.
«When you have to pay a little more for your gasoline, I will never apologize», Trump said. «I did the right thing.
Iran must not have nuclear weapons».
He also emphasized that no one understands how successful we are, except for Iran, which knows it very well.
Prices will drop after the total defeat of Iran, which has suffered a severe defeat.
Is he ultimately negotiating or not?
One of my problems is that there is no one in Iran to negotiate with, Trump stressed, whereas two days earlier he had insisted that «we are negotiating with Iran and the contacts are going well».
We have destroyed Iran's radars and all advanced intelligence equipment.
Iran still has unmanned aerial vehicles, but they are a small fraction of what it used to possess.
Iran's missile production has decreased by 82% and its manufacturing capabilities have largely been destroyed.
Inflation in Iran has reached 350% and the national currency has lost its value.
However, the CIA has refuted Trump, emphasizing that 75% of Iran's missiles remain intact, while Israel's Mossad revealed that the Iranians possess the ability to replenish missiles and drones with great speed.
Iran is the bully of the region
All countries in the region are under siege because Iran is known as the bully of the Middle East.
«We are capable of destroying the entire place.
But we do not want to do that. If they attack us, we will respond 100 times harder».
«They had 212 very good airplanes, some of which were purchased under extraordinary terms from the United States via Barack Obama».
«All of their airplanes are gone», Trump emphasized.
«One of the problems with Iran is that there is no one with whom to negotiate. That is a problem».
«This is the only country in the world where no one wants to become president».
The US president, using insulting language against the Iranian nation, claimed that he stopped this «crazy nation» from obtaining nuclear weapons.
Statement from Iran: The defeated Americans cannot intimidate Iran... they have suffered severe and strategic defeats
A senior Iranian diplomat flatly rejected reported US claims regarding the future status of the Strait of Hormuz, emphasizing that the Islamic Republic of Iran will not be intimidated by threats or displays of military power into reopening Hormuz.
«The Strait of Hormuz cannot be captured by a tweet or an aircraft carrier, by issuing an order or delivering a campaign speech.
Iran is neither intimidated by threats nor cowed by displays of power», stated Deputy Minister for Legal and International Affairs Kazem Gharibabadi.
His remarks came after Trump reportedly said that, following the «defeat of Iran», he would soon declare the Strait of Hormuz «American territory».
Gharibabadi expressed astonishment at the claim, asserting that it was rather Washington that had suffered defeat in its efforts to impose its will on Iran.
«Let us look at the facts for a moment: so far, you have suffered severe and strategic defeats.
The Strait of Hormuz was, is, and will remain Iranian; this Hormuz will close or reopen solely under the command of Iran», the diplomat stated.
«And as long as you refuse to acknowledge the reality of your defeat and continue to indulge in delusions, Iran will continue to enforce the blockade».
The Persian Gulf Straits Authority (PGSA), Iran's mechanism for managing transit through the waterway, also rejected repeated claims by American officials that Hormuz was no longer blocked.
«The Strait of Hormuz remains blockaded and will not reopen until Iran's conditions are accepted», it added.
Russia: Trump's statements that he will take control of Hormuz are entertaining in nature, they are nonsense...
The phrase of the President of the United States regarding the recognition of the Strait of Hormuz as territory of the United States is entertaining in nature, Russian officials emphasized.
It sounds like a strong statement, but it is suitable only for an entertaining television show.
Trump has already declared Canada and Greenland as territory of the United States, but they have not yet been annexed.
According to Russia, he will not be able to establish control over Hormuz and defeat Iran, and the Islamic Republic continues to sink American ships. They added that Hormuz will become American «when pigs fly» (literally, when the mountain whistles).
Israel surprised by Iran's new missile situation, Goldman Sachs: Persian Gulf oil exports down 64%
An Israeli newspaper reported that Iran managed to rebuild its arsenal of ballistic missiles at a much faster pace than predicted by the Israeli military and Mossad, and this startling progress has surprised Israeli officials.
According to American firm Goldman Sachs, Persian Gulf oil exports have dropped by 64%.
Export volume has reached approximately 8.4 million barrels per day.
Bloomberg reports that the Trump administration is preparing «unprecedented economic measures» against Iran to force the country into an agreement before the November midterm elections!
This move also shows that Trump is prioritizing economic pressure and diplomacy over a return to military strikes against Iran, despite pressure from certain senior officials.
Al Jazeera: Vance's statement that low gasoline prices are the top priority suggests a shift in stance toward the war with Iran
US Vice President JD Vance emphasized that the primary goal is to keep oil and gasoline prices low for Americans.
The second goal, he says, is to ensure that Iran never acquires nuclear weapons.
Therefore, this marks a slight shift in the messaging of the administration, which was previously quite adamant that oil prices were merely a cost of the primary objective of eliminating any possibility of Iran acquiring nuclear weapons.
It is certainly a policy shift.
Vice President JD Vance appears to have distanced himself somewhat from the position held by President Trump throughout the conflict, noted Al Jazeera.
Trump insisted from the beginning that the most critical issue is preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.
Indeed, he justified any economic costs that Americans might bear with the fact that, as he said, it would prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.
Now, the Vice President states that the primary objective is to keep oil and gasoline prices low for Americans.
The secondary objective, he says, is to ensure that Iran never acquires nuclear weapons.
Hence, this represents a slight alteration in the rhetoric of an administration that was previously uncompromising on the notion that oil prices were an acceptable cost for the primary objective of eliminating any potential for nuclear weapons acquisition by Iran.
The New York Times: Abraham Lincoln supply issues intensified after Iran dismantled the US naval base in Bahrain
The New York Times revealed that supply difficulties for the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln began after Iran inflicted severe damage on the US Navy base in Bahrain (NSA Bahrain) at the beginning of the war, disabling a supply chain hub upon which the US Navy had relied for decades.
Given the vulnerability of other Persian Gulf ports to Iranian attacks, the Pentagon shifted the primary regional logistics and support hub to Diego Garcia, an island in the Indian Ocean situated approximately 3,540 kilometers (2,200 miles) from the US carrier strike groups operating in the Sea of Oman.
The elongation of the supply line contributed to equipment shortages and logistical bottlenecks on the aircraft carriers supporting operations against Iran.
The USS Abraham Lincoln has been at sea for nearly nine months without a port call for crew rest.
Meanwhile, there have been reports of shortages of essential supplies and a deterioration in crew morale and mental health.
Bahrain and Fujairah, which are typically used for carrier port calls and rest, remain within range of Iranian missiles.
Iran also targeted the Diego Garcia base with two medium-range ballistic missiles on March 20, after it became the new US logistics hub.
One of the missiles missed its target in the Indian Ocean, and the other was intercepted by a US Navy warship.
Saudi Arabia plans new Green Land Secure Corridor for oil, Iranian missiles ready to target Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia is planning the Green Land Secure Corridor (oil pipeline via highway) to transport oil to Oman, thereby bypassing the Strait of Hormuz.
The Green Land Secure Corridor, intended to connect Oman and Saudi Arabia while bypassing the Strait of Hormuz, has caused significant disruption.
This route links the port of Sohar to SPARK port via the Rub al-Khali highway (located in Saudi Arabia and stretching approximately 564 kilometers).
The estimated cost of this corridor is roughly $533 million.
The aim of this plan is to reduce costs, expedite freight transit, and bypass maritime chokepoints, particularly Hormuz, which has become perilous in recent months due to disputes and clashes between Iran and the United States.
Will this plan, if implemented, be detrimental to Iran?
Some analysts believe that this corridor will ultimately work against Iran.
The Green Land Secure Corridor could link the coasts of Oman with the coasts of Saudi Arabia overland, allowing cargo unable to cross the Persian Gulf to transit overland.
This would mean a reduction in the strategic and economic significance of the Strait of Hormuz and could free Iran from confrontation or even negotiations with the United States.
Atlantic Council: Iran's influence will wane, US must not make concessions to Iran
Landon Derentz, Senior Director of the Global Energy Center at the Atlantic Council, emphasized: «Iran's leverage could diminish in the future».
Derentz argues in his article that Tehran has calculated that the world cannot tolerate a prolonged disruption of the Strait of Hormuz waterway and will be forced to make concessions to reopen it.
However, as the crisis persists, governments and corporations will find greater incentives to locate alternative sources and routes.
Derentz states: «Energy market dependence on a single geographical strait can be phased out through expanded production, pipeline construction, strategic reserve deployment, and reduced oil demand».
Indeed, he advises the US not to rush into granting concessions to Iran prematurely.
Constructing corridors, oil and gas pipelines, reducing fuel imports, replacing fossil fuels with clean energy, and similar measures are options governments can adopt to reduce reliance on the Strait of Hormuz.
If these solutions succeed, the power and effectiveness of the Strait of Hormuz will diminish, conditions of pressure on the global oil and gas market will shift, and the United States may no longer be inclined to offer further concessions for a deal with Iran.
Corridors that will not replace the Strait of Hormuz
The Atlantic Council article adopts a pessimistic view regarding the closure of Hormuz, considering that the «time» factor does not favor Iran and asserting that time works in America's favor.
Yet this is only one interpretation and analysis of the issue under debate.
Several other analyses reach the opposite conclusion.
Most opposing analyses emphasize that alternative corridors and infrastructure cannot substitute for this strategic strait in any way, nor are they capable of matching all capacities of Hormuz, whether in terms of security, economics, or geostrategy.
Weaknesses of the Green Land Secure Corridor
For example, consider the Oman-Saudi Arabia Green Corridor.
Is this route genuinely expected to replace the Strait of Hormuz?
There are at least three fundamental weaknesses in this route:
A. The Oman-Saudi Arabia route is overland and lacks the capacity for maritime vessels; no overland transport modality as large as ships and tankers is capable of moving such volumes of cargo, fuel, and other commodities.
B. The Oman-Saudi Arabia route could be subject to missile threats from Iran and Yemen; especially if an oil pipeline traverses this corridor, it remains vulnerable to potential attacks from the Axis of Resistance.
C. The Oman-Saudi Arabia route is a relatively efficient pathway for energy transfer, but it is in no way capable of moving general cargo, particularly heavy imported goods.
These and similar reasons demonstrate that alternative corridors and routes bypassing the Strait of Hormuz remain very far from being able to replace the strategic Strait of Hormuz and diminish its strategic significance.
IRGC: We continue to produce missiles and drones at high speed, we are ready for anything
A senior officer of the IRGC Aerospace Force emphasized that the production and delivery of the country's air defense systems continued uninterrupted following the 40-day US-Israel war.
Concurrently, for the first time, components of equipment recovered from American and Israeli drones and a fighter jet intercepted by Iranian defense systems during the war were put on display.
Major sections of multiple American and Israeli unmanned aircraft, including the MQ-9 Reaper, Hermes 900, and Hermes 450, as well as technical gear from an MQ-9 and the American F-15 fighter jet, were showcased.
«Thanks to measures taken prior to the war, more than 85% of production infrastructure is operating without any issue».
«The production rate of certain missiles and rockets that proved effective during the war has increased compared to before the war began».
The Iranian officer displayed an American F-15 fighter aircraft that was hit by an Iranian missile on April 3 during an operation conducted by air defense units of the IRGC Aerospace Force.
«Yes, this warplane was struck by a new air defense and missile system, utilizing a purely Iranian tactic, a combination of equipment and tactics that managed to overcome the enemy's technological advantage».
He stated that the pilot realized moments before the missile struck the aircraft that there was only enough time to eject, having zero opportunity to deploy any of the jet's defensive countermeasures.
«This signifies a new air defense system operating outside classic routines», the officer declared.
He also referred to the interception of an American MQ-9 Reaper drone bearing serial number 261, stating that this type of drone weighed 5 tons and measured 20 meters in length.
Ultimately, Iranian airspace is becoming a graveyard for America's most renowned combat drone, the MQ-9 Reaper.
Since the war began, Iran and its regional allies have destroyed more than 40 US MQ-9 Reaper drones (over 90 across all theaters), reducing the fleet by 35% to 50%.
The officer also provided details regarding the use of Starlink modems during the war.
«These modems increased the speed of data transmission for the enemy», he said, adding that they came in several models and were used to provide connectivity and communications capabilities to unmanned aircraft.
However, he emphasized that none of the drones targeted by Iran during the January 12 US-Israel war were equipped with Starlink systems.
He said that once the drones were hit, their missions (including operations targeting Iran's tactical and military installations) were aborted.
According to the officer, 171 airborne targets were hit during the war, including 10 manned aircraft.
A large number of unmanned aircraft and cruise missiles were also struck.
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