Trump rejected NATO offer of help in Persian Gulf - ABC News

The US Central Command said on Friday the guided-missile destroyer USS Michael Murphy is patrolling the Arabian Sea as part of ongoing enforcement of the naval blockade targeting ships entering or exiting Iranian ports.

"Guided-missile destroyer USS Michael Murphy (DDG 112) patrols the Arabian Sea, April 17, as US forces enforce the naval blockade on ships attempting to enter or exit Iranian ports. Since commencement of the blockade, 21 ships have complied with direction from US forces to turn around and return to Iran," CENTCOM posted on X.

US President Donald Trump shared on Friday a Fox segment on Truth Social that featured analysis praising his Iran policy as a “full-spectrum pressure” campaign.

Retired US Navy SEAL officer Mike Sarraille said the approach combines military, economic, and financial measures, describing it as “fifth-generation warfare Trump style.”

Sarraille argued that US policy targeted financial and institutional systems he said have supported Iran for decades, and commended the administration’s overall strategy as highly coordinated pressure against Tehran.

Ataollah Mohajerani, former Iran's Culture Minister warned on Friday that Iran risks losing strategic advantage in information warfare if it fails to act quickly during sensitive moments.

“If the Supreme National Security Council does not appoint a capable spokesperson, and does not speak in a timely manner during sensitive and necessary moments, and does not take the initiative in shaping the first narrative, we will suffer greater harm in psychological warfare and the war of narratives," Mohajerani posted on X.

Iran's Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said on Friday all seven recent claims by the US President are lies, and the us will fail in both war and negotiations.

Ghalibaf warned that with continued blockade, the strait of Hormuz will not remain open; shipping will follow only designated routes with Iran's permission, decided by field conditions not social media.

"The President of the United States made seven claims in one hour, all seven of which were false. They did not win the war with these lies, and they will certainly not get anywhere in negotiations either. With the continuation of the blockade, the Strait of Hormuz will not remain open," he posted on X.

US President Donald Trump said on Friday the newly announced ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon is “unprecedented,” calling it the first such agreement in 78 years.

Trump said that the US and Iran negotiations are not tied to the Lebanon agreement, adding: “Our deal with Iran is not in any way tied to Lebanon.”

“We will make Lebanon great again,” while describing the ceasefire as a major diplomatic breakthrough brokered by the United States.