"This morning, two ships attempting to illegally cross the Strait of Hormuz were fired upon with warning shots and intercepted by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy", Iran's state television reported on 13/7.
Iran did not provide further information about the two vessels. This action by Iran occurred as the conflict with the US over control of Hormuz entered its fifth day.
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A cargo ship anchored in the Strait of Hormuz off Bandar Abbas, Iran, on 30/6. Photo: AP
Esmail Baghaei, spokesperson for Iran's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, announced on the same day that Iran and Oman negotiated last weekend to find a new agreement for the Strait of Hormuz.
"Our efforts were to achieve a mechanism, with consultation from Oman, to ensure the safe passage of ships, but this was unsuccessful due to both public and secret US pressure on Oman", Baghaei stated.
US attacks on Iran are increasing in both number and scope. According to Iran's state news agency IRNA, most US strikes remain concentrated along Iran's southern coast, but one attack targeted a military facility in Na’in, in the central part of the country, resulting in one fatality and 7 injuries.
The US deployed fighter jets and launched cruise missiles to strike Iranian targets on 12/7. Video: CENTCOM
The US intensified its airstrikes on Iran last week, following President Donald Trump's declaration that a ceasefire "had ended". U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) reported attacking hundreds of targets in Iran since the night of 7/7.
"Last night we hit them very hard. Every time they send drones, we hit back very hard", President Trump declared today. "We had 10 agreements with Iran, but they always broke them, so we will continue to hit hard".
He added that in addition to the new attacks, the US would become the "protector" of the Strait of Hormuz. "Now we will protect this area and must be paid for it", he said.
Iran retaliated by launching a series of missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) at US bases in several Gulf countries. Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps announced today that it had "completely destroyed" a Patriot air defense system and fuel tanks at Ali Al-Salem airbase, as well as a "strategic radar system" at Ahmad Al-Jaber airbase in Kuwait.
Ngoc Anh (According to AFP, CNN)
