US warns Iran it will step up economic pressure; two more ships attacked in Hormuz

The Strait of Hormuz, a narrow waterway at the entrance to the Gulf, is once again witnessing increased tensions as two more ships were attacked and the United States announced it could maintain a naval blockade of Iran indefinitely. The attacks occurred on Thursday evening when two vessels from the state-owned Abu Dhabi National Oil Company were targeted, according to UAE state news agency WAM.

Iran has accused the ships of attempting to transit the strait without its permission, leading to continued attacks on vessels it alleges are violating its sovereignty.

The United States, led by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, stated that the U.S. military possesses the capability to sustain a naval presence in the region to enforce its retaliatory blockade against Iran, which has caused significant economic damage to the country. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent added that the United States plans to inflict further financial harm on Iran, hinting at unprecedented economic isolation measures.

Tensions in the region have been heightened by Iran's insistence on certain conditions for reopening the strait, including the removal of economic sanctions and the release of frozen Iranian assets. Iran's parliamentary committee recently approved its plan for the strait, which includes a provision barring the transit of U.S., Israeli, and other "hostile" countries' assets and equipment.

Meanwhile, the U.S. has tightened economic sanctions against Iran and individuals associated with its nuclear program, but these efforts have not yet succeeded in bringing Tehran back to the negotiating table.