AJ
The US/Israel Iran War ceasefire recap for day 16 (April 23) includes more reports from the Strait of Hormuz, a ship captured in the Indian Ocean, warnings, comments and replies, as back and forth continued towards the weekend, at which point multiple Israeli outlets are pushing for an attack to take place.
Strait of Hormuz:
Fees from ships passing through the Hormuz Strait have been collected and deposited into the Iranian treasury accounts, Iranian Deputy Speaker Hamidreza Haji Babaei told Tasnim News and Fars News, stating the fees depended on the type and cargo of the ship and the level of risk they carried, and funds collected from ships as Iranian fees are being deposited into a unified treasury account.
US Central Command reported on Thursday morning that they had successfully directed 31 vessels from Iran to turn around and return to port as part of the blockade, noting most of the vessels had been oil tankers, and updating on Thursday night that another two had been turned around throughout the day.
The Secretary General of Iran’s shipping association warned that the US naval blockade would worsen global inflation and fuel shortages, causing significant losses for all countries, with European nations hit harder than China, accusing the US of lying about not needing the Strait of Hormuz, and added that shipping traffic continues with the support if Iran’s armed forces.
Iran and the US are currently at a stalemate in the Strait of Hormuz, reported WSJ, noting how Iran had attacked three cargo ships on Wednesday, while the US continued its blockade to prevent Iranian oil exports, while the indefinite ceasefire is keeping oil prices over $100 a barrel, adding that mediators were scrambling to restart diplomacy, refusing to return to talks until the blockade is lifted, while the IRGC’s ‘mosquito fleet’ of fast attack boasts continue to threaten commercial shipping and later began escorting Iranian cargo vessels.
The BBC continued the story, saying that neither side showed any signs of backing down, because the US believed the economic pressure would force Tehran to accept a deal, but Iran’s leaders were not willing to capitulate knowing they were holding the rest of the world hostage, adding that Iran’s lead negotiator Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said the US naval blockade and Trump’s repeated threats to bomb Iran violated the ceasefire agreements and were the main obstacles for continuing genuine negotiations, despite intensive mediation efforts underway from regional countries and Pakistan.
Kpler stated that the US naval blockade had disrupted part of the country’s oil operations, but key export infrastructure remained intact, and shipments continued, especially towards China, stated Al Maydeen, noting that data showed tankers were still operating within Iran’s loading zones and crude was flowing to China averaging around 985,000 barrels per day in the first half of April, which has continued without disruption since thanks to land corridors.
UKTMO reported a security incident near a cargo ship off the coast of Somalia early on Thursday afternoon, around 83 miles southeast of Eyl, Somalia, where a cargo ship encountered two small boats carrying armed individuals who opened fire, and is believed to be in relation to Somalia recently offering to help secure the region.
The US Department of War published footage and a statement confirming that US forces carried out a maritime interdiction and ‘right-of-visit’ boarding of the sanctioned stateless ‘Majestic X’ that was transporting crude oil from China to Iran and was travelling through the Indian Ocean in the INDOPACOM area of responsibility, adding that the US would continue global maritime enforcements to disrupt illicit networks and interdict vessels providing material support to Iran, wherever they may operate, and the NYT later cited that shipping data indicated the Majestic was loaded with Chinese crude oil.
Securing the new order and security in the Strait of Hormuz under their new toll-structure, as well as to confront any ship breaching the order of the Strait, the Head of the Judiciary of Iran Ejayee reported that the Revolutionary Guard fleet were now equipped with speedboats and drones in caves around Farfur Island, ready and waiting to completely destroy any attacking US ships.
The two cargo ships seized by the IRGC Navy were taken to the Port of Bandar Abbas, Reuters reported, stating that one of the relatives of the seafarers reported that Iran was treating the crew well: “Some 20 Iranians armed to the teeth stormed the ship, sailors are under Iranians’ control, their movements on the ship are limited, but the Iranians are treating them well.”
President Trump wasn’t happy with the new terms set by Iran for the Strait, including the use of the fast attack vessels, heading to Truth Social as he woke to say the US Navy had been ordered to shoot and kill any small boats or attack boats of the IRGC, still claiming all the Iranian navy were lying on the bottom of the sea, while adding that Iran were planting more mines in the Strait, so there were sweepers out in the Strait performing clearance operations and Trump ordered the activity to continue but at a ‘tripled up level.’
International shipping companies including Maersk are currently avoiding the Strait of Hormuz after the IRGC Navy seized two Mediterranean Shipping Co vessels on Wednesday, according to WSJ, citing shipowners and analysts, as they fear any movement in the Strait would lead to their vessels also being captured.
An Iranian bulk carrier ship carrying rice was escorted by the IRGC Navy through the Sea of Oman into Iran through the US Blockade, reported Fars News, while Sabereen News reported that the US failed to intercept the vessel as it passed.
Updates of the US Navy in the region were published as the day came to a close.
New Law For The Strait:
The Iranian Parliament has prepared and published a draft law on the new regulations for safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz, which is likely to come into effect once the US blockade has been lifted and the IRGC have reopened the Strait, and includes the following:
- The Payment of tolls in Rials prior to granting passage rights.
- Inclusion of the name ‘Persian Gulf’ in all contracts.
- Payments in compensation (in addition to tolls) by ships affiliated with nations that took part in the war against Iran.
Passage is strictly prohibited for:
- Ships associated with Israel.
- Countries that sanction Iran or act as accomplices in blocking Iranian assets.
- Military vessels of hostile nations, including the United States.
Negotiation Updates:
According to a source close to the Trump Administration, the next steps against Iran have already been set if negotiations aren’t renewed, reported Israel Hayom, noting the ceasefire is expected to expire within days, after which they say the US would launch a crushing military strike described as ‘stronger than all the previous attacks so far,’ in an operation that would last several days before military actions are brought to an end.
Tehran has informed the Pakistani mediator that the clause requiring a full ceasefire in Lebanon is non-negotiable, but the US conveyed through the mediator that direct Lebanon-Israel talks would achieve the goal more quickly and Washington didn’t want the Lebanese issue included in its negotiations with Iran, Al-Akhbar reported.
Pakistan is looking to propose that Iran open the Strait of Hormuz in exchange for the US ‘partially’ lifting the naval blockade, but didn’t explain what ‘partially’ entailed, as the mediators look to ensure talks take place during the extended ceasefire period, Al Arabiya reported.
Sources close to the Iranian top leadership told Iran International that internal disputes with Iran’s leadership prevented a negotiating team travelling to Islamabad for talks with the United States, because the delegation was reportedly ready to leave when a message from Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei’s inner circle ruled out discussions on nuclear issues and reprimanded the Foreign Ministry team over earlier negotiations (which led to rumours Araghchi had resigned), and Iranian FM Araghchi warned under such constraints, attending the talks wouldn’t serve any purpose and would doom any chances of progression.
Other News:
Greece: Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis and the Espaminondas management company both confirmed that Iranian forces had boarded the Greek container ship in the Strait of Hormuz, stating it was now anchored and no Iranians were on board while all the crew were safe, accounted for and being treated fairly.
Iran: Several drones were reported in the early hours of Thursday morning flying at high altitude over Iran forcing air defences to become active and causing several explosions to be heard, however multiple Iranian agencies including Fars News, Tasnim News and IRIB News later reported it was Iranian tests of air defences and no drone incursion in the skies.
Iran: South Korea’s Special Envoy Chang Byung-ha met with Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in Tehran on Wednesday to discuss relations and possible transit of South Korean vessels through the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran: Officials in Iran are avoiding direct contact with Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei out of concern that Israel could track movements and target him, reported NYT, stating that despite being seriously wounded, officials say Khamenei remained mentally alert and engaged after undergoing multiple surgeries on his leg and hand, to the point he’s expected to receive a prosthetic, along with severe burns to his face that have made speaking difficult, and further procedures may be required.
Iran: President Masoud Pezeshkian, who is also a heart surgeon, has allegedly been involved in Mojtaba Khamenei’s personal care along with the Minister of Health, but because of security concerns and worries of appearing to be weak, he hasn’t made any public appearances or recordings, while communication has been handled through handwritten messages passed via trusted couriers.
Iran: Mehr News was first to publish information about air defences active over Tehran that was countering hostile targets, although Israeli channels Kan News and i24news were quick to report the attacks weren’t from Israel, which was then confirmed by Israeli Channel 12, who were told by an IDF official that there were no Israeli attacks on Iran and if anyone was attacking, it was the United States, but a US official then told Al Jazeera there was also ‘no change in the ceasefire with Iran,’ as they denied any attacks. Jewish Breaking News later said that Iranian channels reported the activation of defences was due to the detection of Orbiter-type drones, which are small Israeli-made UAVs, primarily designed for intelligence gathering and aerial surveillance.
Iran: Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei made a rare post on X, stating that the ‘enemy’s’ media operations, by targeting the minds and psyches of the people, intended to undermine national unity and security, but the unity of the Iranians wouldn’t allow this intent to come to fruition.
Israel: Defence Minister Israel Katz was pushing for war in an evening address, where he stated Israel was prepared for the renewal of the war with Iran, the IDF had prepared defence and offence and targets had been marked, so Israel were just waiting for the green light from the United States to first and foremost complete the elimination of the Khamenei dynasty and the Iranian regime’s leadership while pushing Iran back into the ‘dark ages’ era by bombing key energy and electricity facilities and crushing its national economic infrastructure.
Israel: Kan News said that Israel were weighing up possibilities of fighting in both Iran and Lebanon as ceasefires neared expiry dates as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held a special security consultation amid the escalations in the north, while Israeli Channel 12 said that negotiations were likely to fail due to Iran still not complying with the demands of giving up the enriched uranium and future processing rights.
UK: Britain are preparing military divers to help carry out mine-clearance operations in case they are needed in the Strait of Hormuz, according to the UK’s Ministry of Defence, stating that Royal Navy specialists trained in mine disposal are being readied alongside crews as a contingency plan that would also contribute autonomous mine-hunting systems to a proposed multinational effort to secure the vital shipping waterways.
USA: Economists warned the Iran war would increase the economic pressure on American voters even if the conflict ends, saying the economic impacts of the war, especially rising energy prices and inflation, will have long-term consequences for the US economy that will not disappear even if the conflict ends, the Financial Times reported.
USA: 400 American soldiers serving in the Middle East have been injured since February 28, reported the Wall Street Journal, stating that 271 were injured in the Army, 64 in the Navy, 19 in the Marine Corps and 46 in the Air Force, while another 13 soldiers had died in Iranian attacks, along with the collision of two KC-135 aerial refueling tankers.
USA: President Trump shared a shocking comment from Marc Thiessen on Truth Social which said if there were two factions in Iran, one who wanted to deal and one who didn’t, then ‘let’s kill the ones who don’t want a deal,’ seemingly approving the murder of more Iranian officials.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei took to X in response to Trump’s post about openly calling for ‘killing the ones who don’t want a deal,’ stating that the United States, once presented as a cradle of democracy, freedom and human values, now appeared to become a promoter of terrorism, murder and mass violence.
USA: Trump shared a second post that suggested the President didn’t need to get a deal to get what he wanted from Iran.
USA: President Trump, seemingly content in ranting further on Truth Social, issued another post that claimed Iran were having a hard time figuring out who their leader is, because they didn’t know, while there was infighting between Hardliners and Moderates, and claimed the US had total control over the Strait of Hormuz, despite the fact Iran had the Strait closed.
Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf hit back at Trump’s post, stating that there were no radicals or moderates in Iran because they were all revolutionary, and with the iron unity of the nation and government, with complete obedience to the Supreme Leader, Iran would make the aggressor regret their actions.
This post would also later be shared by President Masoud Pezeshkian and other senior Iranian officials showing a unity between the leadership.
USA: The George H W Bush was reportedly expected to be in or US Central Commands area of responsibility within a 48 hour period, reported i24news, at which time it will join the USS Abraham Lincoln and the USS Gerald R Ford strike groups, but later Central Command reported that the USS George H W Bush had arrived in the Indian Ocean and was now in position.
USA: Another long post by the President of the United States attacking channels that the President will also call for interviews, such as CNN, while also making the same claims that have been regurgitated for the past 20 days about the Navy and Air Force being demolished, (despite airplanes in Iran flying to intercept drones on Thursday night as well as escorting the Pakistan officials last week), adding that time wasn’t on Iran’s side but a deal would only be made when its appropriate for the US, allies and the rest of the world.
