White House Says Iran Ship Seizures Not Seen as Truce Breach
White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt explained that the president does not classify the incidents as breaches of the truce he extended on Tuesday “because these were not US ships. These were not Israeli ships.”
“These were two international vessels. And for the American media, who is sort of blowing this out of proportion to discredit the president's facts that he has completely obliterated Iran's conventional navy, these two ships were taken by speedy gunboats,” she said in comments to Fox News.
She further argued that “Iran has gone from having the most lethal navy in the Middle East to now acting like a bunch of pirates they don't have control over the strait. This is piracy that we are seeing on display, and the naval blockade that the United States has imposed continues to be incredibly effective,” according to the same remarks.
Trump’s policy involves a naval blockade intended to prevent Iran from collecting transit tolls in the Strait of Hormuz, applying to all vessels entering or leaving Iranian ports.
The statement followed reports that Iran seized at least two ships on Wednesday in the strategic waterway. According to The Wall Street Journal, the Greek-owned Epaminondas and Francesca were reportedly fired upon before being escorted into Iranian waters, while a third vessel, the Euphoria, was also hit and left stranded in Iranian-controlled waters.
Separately, Fox News anchor Martha MacCallum said Trump told her in an interview that claims of a three-to-five-day ceasefire extension window were “not true.” She added that he described himself as “not in a rush” and seeking the “best deal,” and said the US naval blockade “Scares the Iranians more than the bombing,” as quoted.
The White House later confirmed the clarification, with Leavitt telling reporters that reports suggesting a three-to-five-day deadline were inaccurate.
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