00:00U.S. naval blockade enters sixth week as CENTCOM enforces pressure on Iran.
00:05Tampa, Florida
00:07The U.S. Central Command, CENTCOM, continues to enforce a total maritime blockade of Iranian
00:13ports, now entering its sixth week, as diplomatic efforts to reach a peace agreement with Tehran
00:19appear to be nearing a final stage.
00:22Military Operations and Assets
00:25Since the blockade was imposed on April 13, CENTCOM has deployed more than 20 warships
00:31to enforce the measures, along with two carrier strike groups, an amphibious readiness group,
00:36over 100 land- and sea-based aircraft, and more than 15,000 service members in and around
00:42the Strait of Hormuz.
00:44The naval assets include the aircraft carriers USS George H.W. Bush and USS Abraham Lincoln,
00:50along with the amphibious assault ship USS Tripoli.
00:54U.S. fighter jets, including F-A-18 Super Hornets, F-35s, F-15s, and F-16s, conduct daily
01:03patrols over the Gulf of Oman, the Arabian Sea, and the Red Sea to monitor maritime activity
01:09and enforce the blockade.
01:11CENTCOM Commander Admiral Brad Cooper confirmed during a media briefing that the blockade has
01:16been 100% effective in preventing commerce from entering or leaving Iranian ports.
01:21There is no commerce going into and out of Iran, and we will be sustaining this effort,
01:27Cooper said.
01:28Enforcement Actions
01:30As of May 21, CENTCOM forces have redirected 94 commercial vessels attempting to breach
01:36the blockade and have disabled at least four Iranian-flagged tankers.
01:41In one incident, a U.S. F-A-18 Super Hornet fired precision munitions into the smokestacks
01:47of the tanker's M.T. Seastar III and M.T. Sevda, disabling both vessels.
01:52Another tanker, the M.T. Hasna, had its rudder disabled by 20-millimeter cannon fire after
01:58ignoring repeated warnings.
02:00Cooper stated that U.S. forces have also defeated multiple Iranian attacks on commercial shipping,
02:05including cruise missiles, drones, and small boats launched by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary
02:11Guard Corps, IRGC Navy.
02:14Humanitarian and Commercial Passage
02:16Despite the blockade, the U.S. has opened a separate passage through the Strait of Hormuz
02:21to allow commercial shipping to transit to non-Iranian destinations.
02:25The U.S. military has successfully supported the transit of U.S.-flagged merchant vessels
02:30through the Strait, and has encouraged dozens of ships and shipping companies to resume normal
02:34traffic flow.
02:35A CENTCOM official confirmed that 26 humanitarian aid vessels have been permitted to pass safely
02:41through the Strait.
02:42In contrast, Iran's IRGC Navy claimed on Thursday that 31 vessels passed through the Strait of
02:47Hormuz within the past 24 hours in coordination with its forces, though the claim appears aimed
02:53at preserving a narrative of Iranian control over the vital waterway.
02:56A senior U.S. commander stated that there was
02:59Not a single Iranian ship underway in the area, underscoring the pressure on Iran's naval capabilities.
03:07Diplomatic Developments
03:08Deal Mears Completion
03:10As U.S. military pressure continues, diplomatic efforts to end the war appear to be approaching
03:16a final stage.
03:17President Donald Trump announced on Saturday that an agreement with Iran has been
03:21largely negotiated, subject to finalization between the United States, Iran, and regional
03:27allies.
03:28An agreement has been largely negotiated, subject to finalization between the United States
03:33of America, the Islamic Republic of Iran, and the various other countries, as listed,
03:38Trump wrote on Truth Social.
03:39In addition to many other elements of the agreement, the Strait of Hormuz will be opened.
03:44According to Axios, citing a U.S. official, the proposed agreement includes a 60-day ceasefire
03:51extension, during which the Strait of Hormuz would be reopened, Iran would be able to freely
03:56sell oil, and negotiations would be held on curbing Iran's nuclear program.
04:02The New York Times reported that one key element includes an apparent commitment by Tehran to
04:07giving up its stockpile of highly enriched uranium.
04:11Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Bagayi confirmed Saturday that Iran and the United
04:16States are working to finalize a Memorandum of Understanding, MOU, on ending the war.
04:22We should wait and see what will happen within the next three to four days, he said.
04:27However, significant disagreements remain.
04:30Iran insists on not discussing its nuclear program at this stage, demands the release of frozen
04:36assets prior to negotiations, and continues to assert its control and management over the
04:41Strait of Hormuz.
04:42Iranian President Masoud Pazeshkian said Saturday,
04:46We merely seek to safeguard our people's legal and legitimate rights, but our history and
04:52experience of negotiating with the United States urge us to exercise utmost caution.
04:58Criticism and Fallout
05:00The emerging deal has drawn sharp criticism from some hawkish figures.
05:05Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo warned on X that the agreement appeared to follow the
05:10Wendy Sherman, Robert Malley, Ben Rhodes playbook, which he said would pay the IRGC to build a WMD
05:18program and terrorize the world.
05:21The White House responded forcefully, with communications director Stephen Chung telling
05:26Pompeo to shut his stupid mouth and stating that the former diplomat has no idea what he's
05:31talking about and is not read into current intel.
05:35Senator Lindsey Graham, Republican South Carolina, also expressed concern, warning that if a deal
05:41is struck without fully neutralizing Iran's military capabilities, Iran will be perceived as
05:47being a dominant force requiring a diplomatic solution, a major shift in the regional balance
05:52of power.
05:53What remains unresolved?
05:56While Trump has expressed optimism, several critical issues remain unresolved.
06:01Iran's nuclear program and stockpile of near-weapons-grade uranium, the scope and duration of sanctions
06:07relief, the release of frozen Iranian assets, final authority and control over the Strait of
06:14Tormuz, verification and enforcement mechanisms.
06:18As Trump himself said on Saturday, final aspects and details of the agreement are still under
06:23discussion and will be announced shortly.
06:26CENTCOM officials have confirmed that U.S. warships and aircraft will remain stationed in
06:30the region until a formal end to the conflict is declared and peace is restored.
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