April 22: Iran tightens Strait of Hormuz control, intercepts hostile vessels, reinforces deterrence

By Press TV Website Staff

Iran consolidated its control over the Strait of Hormuz after the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Navy intercepted two hostile vessels linked to the Israeli regime and transferred them into Iranian territorial waters.

Iranian officials maintained that instability in the waterway stems directly from US violations and its continued naval blockade, even as maritime data showed dozens of tankers successfully bypassing American restrictions.

President Masoud Pezeshkian reiterated that while Iran remains open to dialogue, Washington’s repeated breaches of commitments and coercive tactics continue to obstruct meaningful negotiations.

Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf stressed that Tehran will not reopen the Strait under pressure, as military commanders warned against miscalculation and signalled readiness to respond decisively to any escalation.

Backed by strong domestic support and sustained operational resilience, Iran projected a position of control both at sea and in the broader diplomatic standoff.

Key developments on day 54 of the war, the fifteenth day of the ceasefire:

• The IRGC Navy said it intercepted two vessels and transferred them to Iranian territorial waters for violating the Strait of Hormuz. IRGC said the vessels MSC Francesca and Epaminodes belong to the Israeli regime.
• In an Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) poll, the vast majority of Iranians rejected US curbs on missiles and uranium, and supported Iran’s control of the Strait of Hormuz.
• President Masoud Pezeshkian stated that Iran welcomed dialogue and agreement, but stated that Washington’s constant breach of commitments, naval blockade and military threats remain the main obstacles to genuine negotiations.
• Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf said the country will not open the Strait of Hormuz under threat from the United States.
• In a statement, the IRGC announced its readiness to create shocking events far beyond the comprehension and calculation of the US-Israeli enemy on the battlefield in the event of fresh aggression.
• Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the prevailing conditions in the Strait of Hormuz are a direct consequence of US violations of international law.
• The commander of the Ground Force of the Iranian Army, Brigadier General Ali Jahanshahi, warned enemies against miscalculating the morale and combat capabilities of Iranian armed forces.
• Data from Vortexa, a major ship-tracking company, showed that dozens of oil tankers, including those carrying Iranian crude oil, have managed to bypass the so-called naval blockade imposed by the US since it began earlier this month.
• The Pentagon has been manipulating the human toll of its war against Iran in a calculated move, a US government official described as a “casualty cover-up,” according to a report by the Intercept.
• The Iranian nation still shows an acceptable and stable level of social endurance and cohesion in the face of pressure from the war conditions caused by the recent US-Israeli aggression against the Islamic Republic, a nationwide survey revealed.
• The US imposed new illegal sanctions on Iran’s defence industry, as the European Union is also moving to expand its own measures.
• Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said the war is “starting to weaken Europe, and if we do not address this situation with an approach that prioritises peace, the damage… will be far greater.”
• Trump said a potential currency swap with the United Arab Emirates is “under consideration.”
• Oil prices jumped on Wednesday, while stocks were mixed as investors waited to see if “peace talks” would resume.

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