The US Department of Defence (DoD) stated it carried out a “maritime interdiction” on the M/T Majestic X, the interception or inspection of a vessel suspected of being hostile or in violation of the law.

Naval Blockade and Mine Threats

This action follows the US imposing a blockade on maritime traffic entering and leaving Iranian ports on 13 April. US Central Command (Centcom) said it has ordered 33 vessels to return to port, and the DoD plans to continue stopping ships suspected of “providing material support to Iran – anywhere they operate.”

President Donald Trump ordered the US Navy to “shoot and kill” any boat laying mines in the critical shipping channel, the Strait of Hormuz. Speaking at a White House event on Thursday, he claimed the blockade is “100% effective” and Iran is “getting no business.”

Iran’s Response and Tolls

Iran described one US ship interception earlier this week as “piracy.” Trump has been targeting Tehran’s oil revenues and tolls it said it has collected from ships to handle freely through the strait. Hamidreza Haji Bababei, the deputy speaker of the Iranian Parliament, claimed the first revenues collected from tolls on the vital waterway were deposited with the country’s Central Bank.

No further details have been provided on the amount of the toll, the method of collection, or who paid it. The BBC could not independently verify this claim. The US has continued its naval blockade despite Trump extending a two-week ceasefire at the request of mediator Pakistan.

Conflicting Claims and Mine Sweeping

Trump said US forces have “total control” of the Strait of Hormuz and claimed Iranians are “having a very hard time figuring out who their leader is.” A day earlier, Iran’s navy said it had seized two cargo ships in the strait and taken them to the country’s coast after reports that three vessels came under fire from Iranian forces.

Islamic Major Guard Corps (IRGC)-affiliated outlet Fars News Agency said IRGC was behind the attacks. BBC Verify analyzed footage shared by the IRGC that purports to show Iranian soldiers seizing the two ships, finding that while the two vessels – MSC Francesca and the Epaminondas – are clearly identifiable, aerial shots appear to have been filmed several hours after the reported initial attack.

Greek authorities denied the Epaminondas was seized and said its captain remains in control. However, the transponders of both vessels have been switched off. On Thursday, Trump also said he had ordered the US Navy to “shot and kill” boats laying mines in the Strait of Hormuz, adding that US mine “sweepers” are clearing the strait “right now.”

The Pentagon dismissed reports suggesting US forces may require six months to remove any mines located in the shipping lane. Pentagon Chief Spokesman Sean Parnell told the BBC that a six-month closure of the Strait of Hormuz is an impossibility and completely unacceptable to the Secretary.