Senator Fetterman backs operation Epic Fury as necessary

UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz is a “fundamental principle” of international maritime law, rejecting any unilateral move to impose charges on shipping.

In an interview with Channel 4 aired on Thursday, she said the Strait is part of international shipping routes linking the high seas and argued that no country can “unilaterally go against the law of the sea” by imposing tolls.

A total of six ships passed through the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday, according to data compiled by the global ship tracking firm MarineTraffic, CBS reported.

They included two oil, chemical or liquefied gas tankers, three cargo ships, and one bunkering vessel supplying fuel to other ships.

The figure compares with five cargo ships on Wednesday, with no oil, chemical or liquefied gas tankers recorded that day. On Tuesday, when a ceasefire was announced, 11 ships transited the strait, including nine tankers.

MarineTraffic data also showed that since February 28, at least 212 oil, chemical or liquefied gas tankers have crossed the strait, accounting for about 58% of all vessels passing through.

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.”