U.S. Tanker Escapes After Iranian Boarding Attempt
Six Iranian gunboats tried to stop a U.S.-flagged oil tanker in the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday, but the attempt failed. According to The Wall Street Journal, the vessels were armed with .50-caliber guns and ordered the tanker to shut down its engines and prepare for boarding. The tanker instead accelerated and was later escorted to safety by a U.S. Navy ship.
Vanguard Tech, a maritime security firm, reported the incident to its clients, but the Pentagon did not immediately comment.
Trump Builds Military “Armada” in the Region
The incident occurs amid a U.S. military buildup near Iran. President Trump described the naval presence in the region as an “armada” and indicated that large warships are en route.
Iran has warned that any strike on its territory could trigger a regional conflict. At the same time, Iranian officials have signaled they are open to negotiating with the United States.
Diplomatic Talks Focus on Iran
U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff is scheduled to meet Israeli leaders, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir. He is also expected to meet Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in Istanbul later this week.
These discussions follow Zamir’s recent trip to Washington, where he met U.S. defense officials to discuss the situation in the Middle East and Iran’s role.
Trump Hopes for Negotiated Solution
President Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One that he believes Iran is negotiating seriously. While he did not confirm any decision on military strikes, he said powerful U.S. ships are moving into the region.
Trump emphasized the possibility of a negotiated deal: “You could make a deal that would be satisfactory with no nuclear weapons. They should do that, but I don’t know if they will. But they are talking to us. Seriously talking to us.”
