Trump finds Iran’s peace proposal insufficient as US enforces blockade
Fox News’ Bryan Llenas reports a tightening stance from President Donald Trump concerning Iran. Trump criticizes Iran’s recent peace offer as insufficient, especially in light of the UK military’s confirmation of an attack near the Strait of Hormuz. The U.S. has maintained a blockade that exacerbates economic strain on Iran, blocking significant oil revenues.
A large cargo vessel was assaulted by several small boats while navigating the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday, approximately 11 nautical miles west of Sirik, Iran, according to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations center.
The captain of the northbound bulk carrier relayed the attack to UKMTO, which confirmed that all crew members were unharmed and that no environmental damage occurred. Ships in the vicinity were urged to proceed with caution and report any suspicious actions as authorities continue their investigation.
This incident unfolded near one of the globe’s most critical maritime chokepoints, escalating tensions over Iranian declarations to exert dominance over the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian state media reported Tehran’s latest peace offer to the U.S. includes a proposal for Iran to govern and control the strait.
“What is certain is that we will not relinquish control of the Strait of Hormuz, and it will not revert to its pre-war conditions,” stated Ali Nikzad, deputy speaker of Iran’s parliament, on Sunday.
The U.S. military has maintained a naval blockade in the Strait of Hormuz, even amidst the ceasefire, according to U.S. Central Command.
The location is significant because territorial waters generally extend up to 12 nautical miles from a nation’s coastline. But under international maritime law, foreign-flagged vessels are allowed innocent passage through territorial seas so long as they are not engaging in threatening conduct, fishing or other prohibited activity.
The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea says coastal states may claim a territorial sea up to 12 nautical miles, while foreign vessels are allowed “innocent passage” through those waters.
No group immediately claimed responsibility for Sunday’s attack. The vessel was not publicly identified in the initial UKMTO alert.
Iran has previously used fast-attack boats to harass or seize vessels in and around the strait. Sunday’s incident follows a series of maritime attacks in the region during the ongoing conflict involving Iran, the U.S. and Israel, with commercial shipping repeatedly caught in the middle.
The Strait of Hormuz connects the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and is a key route for global energy shipments. The U.S. Energy Information Administration has described it as a critical oil chokepoint, and roughly one-fifth of global petroleum liquids consumption moved through the strait in recent years.
A cargo ship sails in the Persian Gulf toward the Strait of Hormuz on April 22, 2026. (AP Photo)
The UKMTO alert did not say whether the small craft were Iranian, and authorities were continuing to investigate.
