As per reports recieved by United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) on Tuesday a vessel was struck by an unknown projectile while transiting outbound in the Strait of Hormuz, causing engine room damage and a crew casualty, with the remaining crew being assisted by the Omani Coast Guard.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has utilised the period of relative calm following a June memorandum of understanding with the United States to prepare for a wider confrontation, including formulating plans for pre-emptive strikes and potential operations on enemy territory, according to a report citing Iranian and Arab officials.
As the 60 day ceasefire period comes to an end, Iran threatens new offensive. “Iran will shift to a “fully offensive” military posture because efforts to negotiate a permanent end to the war with the US have stalled, a senior Iranian official told reporters. The remarks came after the US ruled out extending a temporary ceasefire agreement.
Earlier, Trump on Monday (local time) reiterated his remarks about declaring the Strait of Hormuz a “US territory,” asserting Washington has “total control” in the region. Speaking to reporters, the US President highlighted the effectiveness of the naval blockade that the US military has been enforcing on Iranian ports and stressed that oil prices are now coming down and the Strait of Hormuz is open.
He said, “I think it’s a great idea. I mean, we control it with the blockade. I like the idea of declaring it a territory. We have total control over the Strait. Now, they can be a nuisance; they can put a mine in the water, and people don’t like having mines hit their billion-dollar ships. But the blockade has been very effective. Now, maybe that will stop, or maybe it’ll open up even further, but we’re taking out millions of barrels of oil a week if you look at the kind of numbers that we’re doing.”
He added that Iran is in big trouble, noting, “They have 300 per cent inflation, the country’s a mess, and their military is totally defeated.”