Strait of Hormuz traffic drops to six vessels on Thursday, data shows

Former US CENTCOM Chief General Kenneth McKenzie told The Jerusalem Post on Thursday that Iran is likely governed by a hardline IRGC-led committee, but even they can make concessions under existential pressure without regime change.

"Iran will respond to existential pressure. They have done so in the past, drinking from the 'poison chalice'. They will negotiate and will try to avoid" harsh economic attacks and regime change, such that "they are willing to modify their positions even without regime change," he said.

US President Donald Trump said on Thursday Iran is doing a “very poor job” of allowing oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, warning that the situation does not match what he described as an existing agreement.

"Iran is doing a very poor job, dishonorable some would say, of allowing Oil to go through the Strait of Hormuz. That is not the agreement we have!" he posted on Truth Social.

US President Donald Trump on Thursday dismissed a Wall Street Journal report that he “declared premature victory” over Iran, calling the claim inaccurate and describing the outlet’s editorial board as “one of the worst and most inaccurate in the world.”

In a post on Truth Social, Trump said there was “nothing premature” about the situation, reiterating that Iran would “never have a nuclear weapon.”

The IRGC Navy said on Thursday that over the past two days of what it described as a “military silence period,” both “friend and foe” have understood that the management of the Strait of Hormuz has entered a new phase.

In a post on X, the force added: “By God’s permission, and thanks to God.”

The office of the Israeli prime minister said on Thursday remarks by Pakistan’s defense minister calling for the “annihilation” of Israel were “outrageous” and unacceptable.

It said such statements could not be tolerated from any government, particularly one that claims to act as a neutral mediator in peace efforts.