France and UK to lead Paris conference on Strait of Hormuz maritime security

Tanker Trackers said on Wednesday satellite imagery showed several additional tankers had passed through a US-imposed blockade of Iran’s ports and are now in Iranian waters, including one it identified as Iranian-flagged.

The maritime analytics firm also said some sanctions-compliant vessels were heading toward Iraq with their AIS transponders switched off.

Mohsen Rezaei, a senior Iranian official and military adviser to the Supreme Leader, said on Wednesday US warships in the Strait of Hormuz would be targeted, according to remarks in a video statement in which he warned American naval forces were “under our missile launchers.”

“The launchers have most likely been moved by our brothers and are now aimed at the Abraham Lincoln and all American warships. They are all under our launchers now and we will sink them all. We will not allow a single one to escape us. A ceasefire, normally, should be the first step after a series of agreements. That is why I do not accept this as a ceasefire. This is silence," Rezaei said in an interview with official media.

The US military said on Wednesday an Iranian-flagged cargo vessel was turned back after attempting to evade a US-imposed blockade on Iran’s ports, according to US Central Command.

CENTCOM said the ship on Tuesday left Bandar Abbas, exited the Strait of Hormuz, and was intercepted by the USS Spruance before being redirected back toward Iran.

"Yesterday, an Iranian-flagged cargo vessel tried to evade the U.S. blockade after leaving Bandar Abbas, exiting the Strait of Hormuz, and transiting along the Iranian coastline. The guided-missile destroyer USS Spruance (DDG 111) successfully redirected the vessel, which is heading back to Iran," CENTCOM posted on X.

"Ten vessels have now been turned around and ZERO ships have broken through since the start of the US blockade on Monday," the post added.

Saudi Arabia is pressing the United States to reduce its military pressure on Iran and return to negotiations, fearing possible retaliation that could disrupt shipping through the Red Sea, according to Gulf diplomats cited by the Daily Telegraph on Wednesday.

The report said Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman urged Washington to lift its naval restrictions on Iranian ports amid concerns over regional escalation.

"The Saudi lobbying reflects concerns in Riyadh that Tehran would retaliate against the US blockade by instructing its Houthi allies in Yemen to seal the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, a Red Sea chokepoint through which much of the kingdom’s oil supplies pass," the report added.

US House Democratic Representative from Arizona Yassamin Ansari on Wednesday introduced articles of impeachment against Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, accusing him of violating his oath of office, endangering US servicemembers, and authorizing unlawful military actions during the conflict with Iran.

"I’ve introduced Articles of Impeachment against Pete Hegseth for violating his oath, endangering U.S. servicemembers, and committing war crimes, including attacks on civilians and a girls’ school in Minab, Iran. Only Congress can declare war; his actions demand immediate removal," Ansari posted on X.