President Donald Trump said the United States remains engaged in productive communication with Iran even after Tehran moved to once again shut the Strait of Hormuz, describing the decision as an attempt to gain leverage but insisting negotiations are progressing. Trump remarked that Iran “got a little cute” with the renewed closure, while emphasizing that discussions between the sides are “working out really well.”

At the same time, Israeli officials are preparing for the possibility that diplomacy could break down and tensions around the strategic waterway could intensify, according to a source cited by Kan. In parallel, a report indicated that U.S. forces are getting ready to intercept and take control of vessels tied to Iran in international waters worldwide.

Iranian authorities stated that “control of the Strait of Hormuz has returned to its previous state … under strict management and control of the armed forces,” and signaled that this posture would remain in place as long as American sanctions and the blockade on Iranian ports continue. The country’s Supreme National Security Council added that the strait will stay under Iranian authority until “the war fully ends and lasting peace is achieved in the region.”

Iran’s top security body also disclosed that it recently received fresh proposals from the United States during a visit by Pakistan’s army chief, who has been mediating between the two sides. While no details were released, officials said the proposals are still being examined.

The council further stated that any additional negotiations would hinge on Washington dropping what it described as “excessive demands and adjust its requests to the realities on the ground.”

Despite earlier announcements about reopening the waterway under a ceasefire framework, Iranian forces fired at least three tankers attempting to pass through the strait, adding to the uncertainty surrounding the critical shipping route.

The renewed instability around the passage, through which about 20 percent of global oil supplies typically flow, threatens to worsen the ongoing energy crunch and could push the United States and Iran closer to renewed confrontation, even as mediators continue to express optimism about reaching an agreement.

Speaking to reporters at the White House, Trump sought to minimize concerns, reiterating that diplomatic engagement with Tehran remains on track and describing the situation as manageable.

“We’re talking to them,” he said. “We’ll have some information by the end of the day.”

He again criticized Iran’s actions, saying the country “got a little cute” by closing the waterway, adding, “They wanted to close up the strait again… they can’t blackmail us.”

Earlier in the day, Trump hinted at positive developments regarding Iran, referring to “some pretty good news” without offering specifics, while cautioning that hostilities could resume if a deal is not reached by Wednesday, when the current ceasefire is set to expire.

According to Kan, citing an unnamed Israeli source, Iran has fully sealed off the strait. Israeli officials reportedly believe the move is intended to strengthen Tehran’s negotiating position, but they are also concerned that talks could unravel, potentially leading to an escalation.

Meanwhile, updated U.S. intelligence assessments suggest that Iran still retains a significant portion of its military capabilities. Reports indicate that Tehran has access to roughly 70 percent of its pre-war ballistic missile stockpile, about 60 percent of its launch systems, and approximately 40 percent of its drone arsenal.

U.S. intelligence and defense officials also noted that at the time a two-week ceasefire took effect on April 8, Iran had about half of its missile launchers still operational.

Since then, according to the report, Iran has managed to recover an additional 100 launchers from underground storage, bringing its operational capacity to about 60 percent of what it possessed before the war.

Officials further believe that Iran is continuing efforts to retrieve missiles buried under debris from American and Israeli strikes. Once that process is complete, intelligence assessments suggest Tehran could restore its missile reserves to roughly 70 percent of pre-conflict levels.

{Matzav.com}