Iran war deadlock: Hormuz Strait standoff, attacks continue despite ceasefire

0:00 doing very well with regard to Iran.

0:02 Over the weekend, negotiations to end the war between the United

0:06 States and Iran continue with no clear sign of progress.

0:10 According to President Trump, they want to make a deal.

0:12 They're decimated.

0:14 If we left right now, it would take them 20 years to rebuild,

0:18 but we're not leaving right now.

0:19 We're going to do it so nobody has to go back in 2 years or 5 years.

0:23 Instead, the US is launching a new operation

0:25 at the Straight of Hormuz dubbed Project Freedom.

0:29 The goal is to restore free navigation

0:30 for commercial shipping through the critical oil passageway.

0:34 On social media, President Trump writing,

0:36 "The ship movement is merely meant to free up people,

0:40 companies, and countries that have done absolutely nothing wrong.

0:43 They are victims of circumstance." US Central Command

0:47 says the initiative will involve guided missile destroyers,

0:50 more than 100 aircraft, and 15,000 service members.

0:55 Iran says it's a ceasefire violation,

0:57 but President Trump is warning any interference will be dealt with forcefully.

1:02 In a major development in the region today,

1:05 Iran launched two missile attacks against the United Arab Emirates

1:09 with the UAE later stating four loitering munitions coming from Iran towards

1:14 the country were detected where

1:16 three missiles were successfully intercepted over

1:18 the country's territorial waters and the last one fell into the sea.

1:22 SenCom is stating that American forces are actively assisting efforts

1:26 to restore transit for commercial shipping and as a first step,

1:29 two US flag merchant vessels have successfully transited through

1:32 the straight of Hermuz and are safely headed on their journey.

1:36 Pakistan's foreign office says the United States has facilitated

1:40 the transfer of 22 crew members from a seized

1:44 Iranian vessel to Pakistan in order describes as a confidencebuilding

1:48 step with the sailors expected to return to Iran.

1:52 Iran has presented the White House with a new proposal.

1:56 But they say the clock is not indefinite,

1:58 giving the Pentagon a deadline for the US naval blockade,

2:02 though not publishing it publicly, but also saying that they believe they

2:06 have the United States in a tight position.

2:08 The White House believes that they have the leverage here

2:11 with the president saying the latest proposal that he has

2:14 seen from Iran is not one at his juncture

2:17 that is suitable to what the White House is looking for.

2:20 When asked what his next steps might be, this is what he said.

2:24 Would you please start military strike on target?

2:26 Well, I don't want to say that.

2:27 I mean, I can't tell that to a reporter if they uh misbehave,

2:31 if they do something bad, but uh right now, we'll see.

2:36 But, you know, it's it's a possibility that could happen.

2:40 Certainly.

2:41 US military is denying that a vessel was struck

2:43 by two Iranian missiles in the straight of Hormuz this morning.

2:46 This counters reporting from the Iranian state media that a US warship was hit.

2:51 Coming after President Trump unveiled a new strategy dubbed Project Freedom.

2:55 The president posting to True Social on Sunday.

2:57 Countries from all over the world,

2:58 almost all of which are not involved in the Middle East dispute.

3:01 Going on so visibly and violently for all to see,

3:04 have asked the United States if we could help free up their ships,

3:07 which are locked up in the straight of Hormuz.

3:09 We have told these countries that we will guide their ships safely out

3:12 of these restricted waterways so that they can

3:15 freely and abley get on with their business.

3:17 Trump also went on to warn Iran that it would be deadly.

3:20 It would be dealt with quote forcefully if it interfered in this process.

3:25 President Trump continues uh to, you know,

3:27 he he stays on this message that Iran's leadership is in disarray.

3:31 Uh he's now casting doubt on this uh current 14point peace proposal from Iran.

3:36 Iran hit a tanker belonging to the United Arab Emirates

3:39 and the US says it sank several Iranian fast boats attacking commercial vessels.

3:44 Meanwhile, President Trump's new project freedom enabled two US

3:48 flagged ships to safely make it through the straight.

3:51 While the Navy helped two US flagged ships

3:53 through the straight since the initiative began yesterday morning,

3:57 they didn't make it through without incident.

3:58 Iran reportedly fired cruise missiles at Navy ships and drones

4:02 at commercial vessels to maintain its hold on the straight.

4:05 SenCom says none of the navies

4:07 or the commercial ships were hit despite some rumors.

4:10 SenCom also said US forces eliminated six of Iran's small boats.

4:14 Defense Secretary Pete Hegsth said the ceasefire was not over.

4:18 Here he was this morning.

4:20 Sentcom along with partner nations is

4:22 in active communication with hundreds of ships,

4:25 shipping companies, and insurers.

4:27 All of these ships from all around the world want to get

4:31 out of the Iranian trap that they have been stuck inside.

4:36 Now, as for Iran, they have denied that any ships made

4:39 it through the straight unscathed and issued a warning that quote,

4:42 "Any other maritime activity that contradicts

4:45 the declared principles of the IRGC

4:47 Navy will face serious risks in violating vessels will be

4:51 stopped by force." Two US commercial ships along with American destroyers

4:56 have already safely transited the straight showing the lane is clear.

5:01 We know the Iranians are embarrassed by this fact.

5:05 Uh they said they control the straight.

5:07 They do not.

5:08 So American ships led the way commercial and military shouldering

5:13 shouldering the initial risk from the front as Americans always do.

5:17 And right now, hundreds more ships from nations

5:20 around the world are lining up to transit.

5:23 So look, the time's come for Iran to make a sensible choice.

5:26 And it's not easy for them to do that obviously

5:28 because they have a fracture in their own leadership system.

5:30 And apart from that, I mean,

5:32 the top people in that government are to say

5:35 the least um you know um they're insane in the brain.

5:39 This is not an offensive operation.

5:41 This is a defensive operation.

5:42 And what that means is very simple.

5:44 There's no shooting unless we're shot at first.

5:46 After 2 days, the US effort to guide ships through

5:50 a critical oil passageway where Iran has restricted traffic is on pause.

5:55 Under no circumstances can we ever allow them to normalize the fact

5:58 that they get to blow up commercial ships and put mines in the water.

6:02 On Truth Social, the president announcing that based

6:05 on the request of mediator Pakistan and other countries,

6:09 writing the pause is quote for a short period of time

6:12 to see whether or not the agreement can be finalized and signed.

6:16 The sticking point for negotiations remains Iran's nuclear capabilities.

6:21 What do you think they would do if they had a nuclear weapon?

6:23 They would hold the world hostage with that nuclear weapon.

6:26 That's what they would do.

6:27 They would do exactly to the world with a nuclear

6:28 weapon what they're doing now with the Straits.

6:30 But congressional Democrats remain skeptical

6:33 of everything the administration says.

6:36 We've had very good talks over the last 24

6:39 hours and it's very possible that we'll make a deal.

6:42 President Trump has signaled that the Iran war could soon

6:44 end and commercial traffic could resume in the straight of Hormuz.

6:48 Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon and they won't and they've agreed to that.

6:53 Uh they've fired at US ships several times in the last 24 hours.

6:58 What do they need to do to violate the ceasefire?

7:03 Well, you'll find out because I'll let you know.

7:05 They know what to do and they know what to do.

7:08 They know what not to do.

7:09 More importantly, actually, he says he believes the US blockade of Iranian

7:13 ports has been effective toward getting the straight reopened.

7:16 It's like a wall of steel.

7:17 Nobody goes through.

7:19 In particular, the Iranians are not getting

7:21 anything through one way or the other.

7:23 President Trump announced a pause Tuesday night to military

7:26 escorts for commercial ships through the straight of Hormuz.

7:29 He said the pause came at the request of Pakistan and other countries.

7:33 We would prefer the path of peace.

7:35 What the president would prefer is a deal.

7:37 He would prefer to sit down,

7:38 work out a memorandum of understanding for future negotiations.

7:40 Assuming Iran agrees to give what has been

7:43 agreed to, which is perhaps a big assumption,

7:46 the already the already legendary epic fury will be at an end and the highly

7:52 effective blockade will allow the Hormoo Strait

7:54 to be open to all, including Iran.

7:58 But he continued with warning, "If they don't agree,

8:00 the bombing starts and it will be sadly

8:02 at a much higher level and intensity than it was before."

8:05 A major step forward in the US and Iran conflict.

8:08 Sources familiar with the talks confirmed to NewsNation

8:11 that Washington and Tehran are nearing an agreement

8:14 on a one-page memorandum to end the conflict

8:17 and create the framework for nuclear negotiations.

8:20 We're dealing with people that want to make a deal very much and we'll

8:23 see whether or not they can make a deal that's satisfactory to us.

8:27 We have it very much under control.

8:29 The blockade is unbelievable.

8:31 So, the White House says the latest strikes

8:33 in Iran are not a violation of the ceasefire.

8:37 President Trump posting this on True Social tonight, saying, quote,

8:40 "Three worldclass American destroyers just transited very successfully

8:45 out of the straight of Hermoose under fire.

8:47 There was no damage done to the three destroyers,

8:50 but great damage done to the Iranian attackers." Trump warning,

8:54 quote, "Just like we knock them out again today,

8:57 will knock them out a lot harder and a lot more

8:59 violently in the future if they don't get their deal signed

9:03 fast." US Central Command said the strikes were done in self-defense

9:07 after they say US forces intercepted

9:09 what they called unprovoked Iranian attacks.

9:13 SenCom said Iranian forces launched multiple missiles

9:16 and drones on US vessels transiting the strait.

9:19 In response, SenCom said it eliminated inbound threats

9:22 and targeted Iranian military facilities responsible for attacking US forces.

9:28 This all comes after President Trump paused Project Freedom in hopes of reaching

9:32 a deal with Iran on a one-page memorandum to end the war.

9:35 Iran said it is reviewing the US proposal.

9:38 Now, Iran is calling the US strikes a violation

9:41 of the ceasefire agreement between the US and Iran,

9:44 so it's unclear where that leaves peace talks at this time.

9:49 Missiles were shot at our destroyers and were easily knocked down.

9:52 Likewise, drones came and were incinerated while in the air.

9:56 They dropped ever so beautifully down to the ocean.

9:59 M very much like a butterfly dropping to its grave.

10:03 They were firing at us and we were firing back at them.

10:05 As three US warships transited the street of Hormuz Thursday,

10:10 the US military says forces intercepted

10:12 Iranian attacks and struck back in self-defense.

10:16 They got blown away in about 2 minutes.

10:18 The attacks took place as the US is awaiting

10:20 Iran's response to the latest proposal to end the war.

10:24 It's an offer that's basically said they will not have nuclear weapons.

10:28 They're going to hand us the nuclear dust and many other things that we want.

10:33 When they agree, it doesn't mean much cuz

10:35 the next day they forget they forgot they agreed.

10:37 President Trump continues threatening to attack

10:40 if the Islamic Republic doesn't sign on.

10:43 The talks are going very well,

10:44 but they have to understand if it doesn't get signed,

10:48 they're going to have a lot of pain.

10:49 and congressional Democrats remain critical of the administration's efforts.

10:54 The same Iranian regime is in charge

10:57 and their enriched uranium is still in their possession.

11:02 The straight of Hormuz is now closed

11:05 and Americans are suffering with skyrocketing gas prices.

11:10 Despite the ceasefire, another US military action in the Gulf of Aman with US

11:15 Navy ships stopping Iranian vessels from crossing the straight of Hermuz.

11:19 Sankham says a US Navy FA18 Super Hornet

11:23 from the USS George HW Bush disabled two Iranian flag tankers,

11:27 the Sea Star 3 and SEDA after firing precision munitions

11:31 into the smoke stacks to stop them from entering Iran.

11:35 Iran retaliating with two ballistic missiles and three

11:37 drones fired at the United Arab Emirates,

11:40 the third time this week, injuring three people.

11:43 Secretary of State Marco Rubio says the White House expects

11:46 an answer soon on the latest agreement proposal sent to Iran,

11:50 adding he hopes it's a serious offer.

11:52 President Donald Trump says the ceasefire is still holding,

11:55 but the Iranians, as usual,

11:56 with a different message coming from Foreign Minister Abasari,

12:00 calling the strikes a reckless military adventure.