Iran calls US seizure of ships ‘piracy’ in letter to UN

US Central Command said more than 20 vessels remain moored or anchored at Iran’s Chabahar port as US forces enforce the ongoing blockade on Iranian maritime trade.

CENTCOM said an average of five ships were moored or anchored at the port on a normal day before the blockade.

The command said the current buildup showed US forces were cutting off economic trade going into and coming out of Iran during the blockade. The claim comes as US forces continue to intercept and redirect vessels as part of the operation.

Exiled Prince Reza Pahlavi on Tuesday called for continued pressure on Iran’s ruling system, urging efforts to target what he described as the regime’s infrastructure while enabling conditions for public protests.

"I don’t think anyone can breathe easily as long as this regime exists. The regime has been weakened, but not to the point of collapse; there are still parts of the system that remain active and must be addressed and targeted. When the regime is on the verge of collapse, people will be ready to take matters into their own hands," Pahlavi said in an interview with Fox.

"This must be a coordinated campaign. We will do our part as a nation, but we need external support. That support has begun, but it must not stop halfway. The regime has never intended to negotiate and likely never will, because coexistence with the free world is not part of its DNA," he added.

Oil prices climbed on Wednesday, extending a multi-day rally, amid reports that the United States is preparing to prolong its blockade of Iran, raising concerns over continued supply disruptions.

Brent crude for June rose 52 cents to $111.78 a barrel in early trading, marking an eighth straight day of gains, while the more active July contract was also higher, Reuters reported.

US West Texas Intermediate crude futures also advanced, tracking gains in global benchmarks, the report added.

At a White House state dinner on Tuesday US President Donald Trump said Iran would never be allowed to obtain a nuclear weapon, adding that King Charles agreed with his position.

"And we are doing a little work in the Middle East right now, you might know and we are doing very well. We have militarily defeated that particular opponent and we never going to let that opponent ever – Charles agrees with me even more than I do – will never let that opponent get nuclear weapon and they know that, known it very powerfully," Trump said at the state dinner at the White House, without mentioning name of Iran.

International Atomic Energy Agency chief Rafael Grossi on Tuesday posted on X he held a “focused and timely” meeting with US State Department official Christopher Yeaw on developments in Iran, nuclear safety at Ukraine’s power plants, and broader non-proliferation issues.