U.S. Marines boarded an Iranian-flagged oil tanker in the Gulf of Oman on Wednesday, suspecting the crew intended to breach the American blockade. Following the seizure, U.S. forces searched the vessel, believed to be en route to an Iranian port, and instructed the crew to alter its course, as reported by U.S. Central Command in a post featuring video of the encounter. The post also indicated that 91 commercial ships have been rerouted due to the blockade. This marks at least the fifth commercial vessel boarded by U.S. forces since the Trump administration initiated the blockade on Iranian shipping in mid-April, several days into a ceasefire.
Here’s a recap of Thursday’s events:
Republicans Postpone War Powers Vote
8:33 p.m. ET: Republicans on Thursday struggled to secure enough votes to defeat legislation that would mandate President Donald Trump’s withdrawal from the conflict with Iran, leading to the postponement of scheduled votes on the matter until June. The House had planned a vote on a war powers resolution, introduced by Democrats, aimed at curbing Trump’s military actions. However, as it became apparent that Republicans lacked the numbers to defeat the bill, GOP leaders opted against holding a vote. This development underscored the diminishing congressional support for a war Trump initiated over two months prior without legislative approval. “We had the votes without question and they knew it, and as a result they’re playing a political game,” stated Democratic Rep. Gregory Meeks, the bill’s sponsor.
New Iranian General Reportedly Controls Negotiations
6:33 a.m. ET: An Iranian general, implicated in several attacks over recent decades, is believed to have ascended to a position of significant influence. After the collapse of initial negotiations, Brig. Gen. Ahmad Vahidi, who leads Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, has emerged as the primary contact for those engaged in talks with Iran, according to a regional official with direct knowledge of the mediation. A long-serving figure within the ruling establishment, Vahidi has supported militant groups throughout the region. He has also been accused of involvement in the 1994 bombing of a Jewish center in Argentina and, in 2022, directed domestic security forces during a violent suppression of protesters.
Source: Information for this article was obtained from The Associated Press. This story was reported from Orlando.
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