US-Iran war updates: Tehran seizes two ships, claims to have broken blockade, Trump’s ‘timeline’ revealed

The IRGC has released peculiar footage of the Iranian navy seizing the MSC Francesca and Epaminondas, two cargo ships currently under Iran’s control after an incident in the Strait of Hormuz.

The footage shows IRGC troops climbing onto the ship, filmed by someone already on the ship, and includes sweeping drone shots.

The footage has attracted criticism online from people accusing Iran of attempting to film “a movie”.

Set to dramatic music, the video shows heavily armed soldiers gaining access and taking control of the two vessels.

The White House labelled the IRGC as “pirates”.

WATCH THE FULL VIDEO IN THE PLAYER ABOVE.

The Pentagon has announced Navy Secretary John Phelan is leaving his post “immediately” as US President Donald Trump’s US Navy blockade remains in the Middle East.

“Secretary of the Navy John C. Phelan is departing the administration, effective immediately,” a statement posted online said.

“On behalf of the Secretary of War and Deputy Secretary of War, we are grateful to Secretary Phelan for his service to the Department and the United States Navy.”

Undersecretary Hung Cao has stepped into the acting secretary role.

Iran claims that its ships are evading the US blockade in the Strait of Hormuz. The US Central Command (CENTCOM) says that claim is “inaccurate”.

“U.S. forces have directed 29 vessels to turn around or return to port as part of the U.S. blockade against Iran,” CENTCOM said in a statement.

“Hero II and Hedy did not sail past the blockade as part of a flotilla that ‘ferried’ millions of barrels of oil to the market.

“In fact, the Iranian-flagged tankers are anchored in Chah Bahar, Iran, after being intercepted by U.S. forces earlier this week.

“Dorena has been under the escort of a U.S. Navy destroyer in the Indian Ocean after previously attempting to violate the blockade.

“The U.S. military has global reach. American forces are operating and enforcing the blockade across the Middle East and beyond.”

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt says US President Donald Trump will decide when his Strait of Hormuz blockade will be removed and when the ceasefire will end.

“The President chose to extend the ceasefire because it’s Iran who needs to get their act together. The United States and President Trump have been very clear in our demands, and our red lines, and what we need to see,” she said.

Ms Leavitt added that Operation Epic Fury is continuing, “strangling” Iran’s economy, forcing it to lose $US500 million a day through the Strait of Hormuz blockade.

“The United States maintains control over the situation, leverage over the Iranian regime. Not only have they been significantly weakened and obliterated militarily, but they are losing economically and financially every single moment that passes with this blockade.”

Mr Trump’s team claims that they know who needs final sign-off in Iran for negotiations, but are pushing the message that internal regime infighting is crippling Iran’s ability to make a decision.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian says Donald Trump’s actions in the Strait of Hormuz are the main obstacle to reaching a deal.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran has always welcomed and continues to welcome dialogue and agreement,” Mr Pezeshkian wrote on X.

“Bad faith, siege, and threats are the main obstacles to genuine negotiation.

“The world is witnessing your hypocritical empty talk and the contradiction between your claims and your actions,” he added, in direct criticism of Mr Trump.

Iran seized two ships in the Strait of Hormuz, tightening its grip on the strategic waterway after US President Donald Trump called off attacks with no sign of peace talks restarting.

Mr Trump maintained the US Navy blockade of Iran’s trade by sea on Wednesday, and Iran’s parliament speaker and top negotiator Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf said a full ceasefire only made sense if it was lifted.

Reopening the strait was impossible with such a “flagrant breach of the ceasefire,” Mr Qalibaf said in his first response to Mr Trump’s ceasefire extension on X.

“You did not achieve your goals through military aggression and you will not achieve them by bullying either. The only way is recognising the Iranian people’s rights,” he said.

Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency earlier said the Revolutionary Guards had seized two vessels for maritime violations and escorted them to Iranian shores. It was the first time Iran has seized ships since the war began at the end of February.

The Revolutionary Guards also warned that any disruption to order and safety in the strait would be considered a “red line”, Tasnim said.