The US military is preparing to board Iran-linked oil tankers and seize commercial ships in international waters in the coming days, thereby expanding its naval crackdown beyond the Middle East, said a Wall Street Journal report, citing US officials. The report says that the US is planning to expand its campaign to the entire globe and will target ships ferrying Iranian oil outside the Persian Gulf as well as vessels transporting weapons that could support the Islamic Republic.&nbsp;The planning assumes significance as the Iranian military continues to tighten its grip on the Strait of Hormuz and attacked several commercial vessels on Saturday. The developments sent shipping companies scrambling a day after Iran’s foreign minister said the strait was fully open to commercial traffic, an announcement that was welcomed by President Donald Trump.&nbsp;&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/india-summons-iranian-envoy-lodges-formal-protest-over-gunfire-on-indian-vessels-in-hormuz-1776523917375">India summons Iranian envoy, lodges formal protest over gunfire on Indian vessels in Hormuz</a><h2>Trump admin stepping up economic pressure on Tehran</h2>&nbsp;The Trump administration’s decision to step up the economic pressure on Tehran is intended to force the regime to reopen the strait and make concessions on its nuclear programme.&nbsp;Trump said on Friday that Iran has already agreed to hand over its stockpile of highly enriched uranium to the US, but Tehran has rejected that claim.&nbsp;&nbsp;According to US Central Command, 23 ships that sought to leave Iranian ports have been turned back as part of a naval blockade of Iranian ports. The broadening of the campaign will enable the US to take control of Iran-linked vessels around the world, including ships carrying Iranian oil that are already sailing outside the Persian Gulf and those carrying arms that could support the Iranian regime.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/indian-tanker-among-vessels-shot-at-by-iranian-gunboats-in-strait-of-hormuz-reports-1776514445896">Indian tanker among vessels shot at by Iranian gunboats in Strait of Hormuz: Reports</a><h2>‘Trump optimistic that Economic Fury measures will facilitate peace deal’</h2>&nbsp;The US “will actively pursue any Iranian-flagged vessel or any vessel attempting to provide material support to Iran,” Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said on Thursday.&nbsp;The move is part of the US pressure campaign against Tehran, which Trump administration officials have dubbed “Economic Fury.”&nbsp;&nbsp;Trump is optimistic that the naval blockade, combined with measures imposed under Economic Fury, will help facilitate a peace deal, White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly told WSJ.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-has-suspended-nuclear-programme-deal-to-end-war-mostly-complete-says-trump-1776450628924">Iran has suspended nuclear programme, deal to end war ‘mostly complete,’ says Trump</a>&nbsp;Stepping up the economic pressure is vital as the temporary ceasefire between US and Iran expires next week and talks held in Pakistan ended without a breakthrough.&nbsp;US officials say that the country’s defence industry has been bombed heavily.Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said that US forces were “maximally postured” to resume military operations if talks fail.

The broadening of the campaign will enable the US to take control of Iran-linked vessels around the world, including ships carrying Iranian oil that are already sailing outside the Persian Gulf and those carrying arms that could support the Iranian regime.

The US military is preparing to board Iran-linked oil tankers and seize commercial ships in international waters in the coming days, thereby expanding its naval crackdown beyond the Middle East, said a Wall Street Journal report, citing US officials. The report says that the US is planning to expand its campaign to the entire globe and will target ships ferrying Iranian oil outside the Persian Gulf as well as vessels transporting weapons that could support the Islamic Republic. The planning assumes significance as the Iranian military continues to tighten its grip on the Strait of Hormuz and attacked several commercial vessels on Saturday. The developments sent shipping companies scrambling a day after Iran’s foreign minister said the strait was fully open to commercial traffic, an announcement that was welcomed by President Donald Trump. Also Read: India summons Iranian envoy, lodges formal protest over gunfire on Indian vessels in Hormuz Trump admin stepping up economic pressure on Tehran The Trump administration’s decision to step up the economic pressure on Tehran is intended to force the regime to reopen the strait and make concessions on its nuclear programme. Trump said on Friday that Iran has already agreed to hand over its stockpile of highly enriched uranium to the US, but Tehran has rejected that claim. According to US Central Command, 23 ships that sought to leave Iranian ports have been turned back as part of a naval blockade of Iranian ports. The broadening of the campaign will enable the US to take control of Iran-linked vessels around the world, including ships carrying Iranian oil that are already sailing outside the Persian Gulf and those carrying arms that could support the Iranian regime. Also Read: Indian tanker among vessels shot at by Iranian gunboats in Strait of Hormuz: Reports ‘Trump optimistic that Economic Fury measures will facilitate peace deal’ The US “will actively pursue any Iranian-flagged vessel or any vessel attempting to provide material support to Iran,” Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said on Thursday. The move is part of the US pressure campaign against Tehran, which Trump administration officials have dubbed “Economic Fury.” Trump is optimistic that the naval blockade, combined with measures imposed under Economic Fury, will help facilitate a peace deal, White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly told WSJ. Also Read: Iran has suspended nuclear programme, deal to end war ‘mostly complete,’ says Trump Stepping up the economic pressure is vital as the temporary ceasefire between US and Iran expires next week and talks held in Pakistan ended without a breakthrough. US officials say that the country’s defence industry has been bombed heavily. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said that US forces were “maximally postured” to resume military operations if talks fail.

The broadening of the campaign will enable the US to take control of Iran-linked vessels around the world, including ships carrying Iranian oil that are already sailing outside the Persian Gulf and those carrying arms that could support the Iranian regime.

US military prepares to board and seize Iran-linked tankers, commercial ships: Report

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent addressed a White House press briefing along with Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt on Wednesday and said that though airstrikes under ‘Operation Epic Fury’ have halted during the ceasefire, ‘Operation Economic Fury’ is under way against Iran. Bessent said that the US will now ramp up its infliction of economic pain on Iran. He added that the effort would be the “financial equivalent” of a bombing campaign.&nbsp;The US Treasury Secretary said that countries are being cautioned against buying Iranian oil and have been told that the US will consider secondary sanctions on them if they have Iranian cash in their banks.&nbsp;Bessent further said that Iran made the mistake of bombing other nations in the Middle East, and those countries are now being “more transparent” about the Iranian funds in their banking systems.&nbsp;The US has urged those nations to freeze the bank accounts and funds of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and will consider secondary sanctions on them if they don’t, he added.&nbsp;&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ran-threatens-shipping-in-persian-gulf-red-sea-and-gulf-of-oman-if-us-naval-blockade-continues-1776256812749">Iran threatens shipping in Persian Gulf, Red Sea, and Gulf of Oman if US naval blockade continues</a><h2>‘Two Chinese banks got US Treasury warning letters’</h2>&nbsp;On being asked if Trump’s threat of a 50% tariff on China is still on the table, Leavitt said President Xi Jinping has assured Donald Trump that China is not supplying Iran with weapons in this conflict, and Chinese banks have been warned about holding Iranian funds.&nbsp;Bessent said two Chinese banks got letters from the US treasury that if they can prove there is Iranian cash in their accounts the US is willing to slap secondary sanctions on those banks.He did not identify the two Chinese banks.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/-all-options-on-table-to-will-fail-iran-us-harden-stance-amid-possible-second-round-of-peace-talks-iran-us-war-updates-1776249974579">'All options on table' to 'will fail': Iran, US harden stance amid possible second round of peace talks</a><h2>‘Iranian port blockade now fully implemented’</h2>&nbsp;&nbsp;On being asked how long the US Navy blockade of Iranian ports will go on, Leavitt said she will “never set timelines on behalf of the president” but said that the operation has now been fully implemented.&nbsp;The blockade is being enforced against vessels of all nations that are entering or departing Iranian ports, she said.&nbsp;She added that the US forces are supporting freedom of navigation for vessels transiting the strait outside of the ports.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-bloc-to-oppose-women-s-quota-bill-over-delimitation-says-congress-president-mallikarjun-kharge-1776266155976">INDIA Bloc to oppose Women’s Quota Bill over delimitation, says Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge</a><h2>‘US will not be renew waivers allowing purchase of Russian and Iranian oil’</h2>&nbsp;Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said that the US government “will not be renewing the general licence” on Russian oil, nor one on Iranian oil.These were temporary waivers of sanctions that allowed for the purchase of Russian and Iranian oil that was already at sea at the time.Bessent clarified that those waivers were on “oil that was on the water prior to March 11th, so all that has been used.”&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/despite-us-blockade-sanctioned-iranian-supertanker-crosses-strait-of-hormuz-without-any-concealment-1776248942183">Despite US blockade, sanctioned Iranian supertanker crosses Strait of Hormuz ‘without any concealment': Report</a><h2>‘Plans for another round of peace talks still being discussed’</h2>Leavitt shared that plans for another round of in-person peace talks are still being discussed, and would likely be held again in Islamabad, Pakistan.&nbsp;&nbsp;“The Pakistanis have been incredible mediators and we really appreciate their friendship and efforts to bring this deal to a close,” she said.&nbsp;&nbsp;The President feels it’s important to continue to streamline this communication through the Pakistanis, Leavitt added.&nbsp;Leavitt also rebuffed reports saying that the US asked to formally extend the Iran ceasefire and said they are “not true”.

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Iran made the mistake of bombing other nations in the Middle East, and those countries are now being “more transparent” about the Iranian funds in their banking systems. He further said that countries are being cautioned against buying Iranian oil.

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent addressed a White House press briefing along with Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt on Wednesday and said that though airstrikes under ‘Operation Epic Fury’ have halted during the ceasefire, ‘Operation Economic Fury’ is under way against Iran. Bessent said that the US will now ramp up its infliction of economic pain on Iran. He added that the effort would be the “financial equivalent” of a bombing campaign. The US Treasury Secretary said that countries are being cautioned against buying Iranian oil and have been told that the US will consider secondary sanctions on them if they have Iranian cash in their banks. Bessent further said that Iran made the mistake of bombing other nations in the Middle East, and those countries are now being “more transparent” about the Iranian funds in their banking systems. The US has urged those nations to freeze the bank accounts and funds of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and will consider secondary sanctions on them if they don’t, he added. Also Read: Iran threatens shipping in Persian Gulf, Red Sea, and Gulf of Oman if US naval blockade continues ‘Two Chinese banks got US Treasury warning letters’ On being asked if Trump’s threat of a 50% tariff on China is still on the table, Leavitt said President Xi Jinping has assured Donald Trump that China is not supplying Iran with weapons in this conflict, and Chinese banks have been warned about holding Iranian funds. Bessent said two Chinese banks got letters from the US treasury that if they can prove there is Iranian cash in their accounts the US is willing to slap secondary sanctions on those banks. He did not identify the two Chinese banks. Also Read: 'All options on table' to 'will fail': Iran, US harden stance amid possible second round of peace talks ‘Iranian port blockade now fully implemented’ On being asked how long the US Navy blockade of Iranian ports will go on, Leavitt said she will “never set timelines on behalf of the president” but said that the operation has now been fully implemented. The blockade is being enforced against vessels of all nations that are entering or departing Iranian ports, she said. She added that the US forces are supporting freedom of navigation for vessels transiting the strait outside of the ports. Also Read: INDIA Bloc to oppose Women’s Quota Bill over delimitation, says Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge ‘US will not be renew waivers allowing purchase of Russian and Iranian oil’ Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said that the US government “will not be renewing the general licence” on Russian oil, nor one on Iranian oil. These were temporary waivers of sanctions that allowed for the purchase of Russian and Iranian oil that was already at sea at the time. Bessent clarified that those waivers were on “oil that was on the water prior to March 11th, so all that has been used.” Also Read: Despite US blockade, sanctioned Iranian supertanker crosses Strait of Hormuz ‘without any concealment': Report ‘Plans for another round of peace talks still being discussed’ Leavitt shared that plans for another round of in-person peace talks are still being discussed, and would likely be held again in Islamabad, Pakistan. “The Pakistanis have been incredible mediators and we really appreciate their friendship and efforts to bring this deal to a close,” she said. The President feels it’s important to continue to streamline this communication through the Pakistanis, Leavitt added. Leavitt also rebuffed reports saying that the US asked to formally extend the Iran ceasefire and said they are “not true”.

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Iran made the mistake of bombing other nations in the Middle East, and those countries are now being “more transparent” about the Iranian funds in their banking systems. He further said that countries are being warned against buying Iranian oil.

‘Operation Economic Fury under way’: US warns nations against buying Iranian oil, urges freeze on IRGC funds

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US military prepares to board and seize Iran-linked tankers, commercial ships: Report

‘Op Economic Fury under way’: US warns nations against buying Iranian oil