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Secretary of War Pete Hegseth claimed that Iran violated its ceasefire with the United States by laying more mines in the Stait of Hormuz during his press conference at the Pentagon Friday (April 24) morning.
"If there’s attempts to recklessly and irresponsibly lay more mines, we’re going to deal with that. It’s a violation of the cease-fire," Hegseth said via the New York Post.
The U.S. has set up its own blockade of the Strait of Hormuz in response to Iran's efforts to take over the crucial waterway and control shipping since the war was launched on February 28.
“So transit is occurring much more limited than anybody would like to see, and with more risk that people would like to see, but that’s because Iran is doing irresponsible things with small, fast boats, crafts, like I said, with weapons on them," Hegseth said via the New York Post.
The War Department's announcement that the U.S. military seized a Guyana-flagged tanker transporting Iranian oil in the Indian Ocean on Thursday (April 23) in a post shared on its X account.
"Overnight, U.S. forces carried out a maritime interdiction and right-of-visit boarding of the sanctioned stateless vessel M/T Majestic X transporting oil from Iran, in the Indian Ocean within the INDOPACOM area of responsibility." the post states. "We will continue global maritime enforcement to disrupt illicit networks and interdict vessels providing material support to Iran, wherever they operate. International waters cannot be used as a shield by sanctioned actors. The Department of War will continue to deny illicit actors and their vessels freedom of maneuver in the maritime domain."
The War Department's confirmation came after Hamidreza Hajibabaei, the deputy speaker of Iran's parliament, claimed that Iran, not the United States, was now making demands after the first revenues for newly implemented tolls on shipping through the Strait of Hormuz were deposited into the state's central bank.
"We have control over this Strait," Hajibabaei said during a public gathering in the western city of Kuhdasht via ABC News.
"If the United States continues on its current course, no vessels will pass through the Strait of Hormuz," he added. "We are not engaged in negotiations -- rather, we are making demands."
Alireza Salimi, also a member of the Iranian parliament, confirmed the deposit of revenues during an interview with Tasnim News Agency on Thursday (April 23).
"The amount collected from each ship depends on its cargo and level of risk they pose," Salimi said, according to the semi-official news outlet.
"Iran determines how much and how these fees are collected, in other words, we determine the rules," he added.
Iran blockaded the Strait of Hormuz, which serves as a vital waterway for trade along the Persian Gulf responsible for an estimated 20% of the world's oil supply traveling through, in response to the United States and Israel's 'Operation Epic Fury' prior to its ceasefire agreement and most recently due to Israel's failed truce with Lebanon. The blockade has led to gas prices soaring in the United States as the price of oil surpassed $100 per barrel multiple times.
Iran's comments on toll revenue came days after Trump agreed to extend the ceasefire agreement with Iran ahead of its deadline Wednesday (April 22).
"Based on the fact that the Government of Iran is seriously fractured, not unexpectedly so and, upon the request of Field Marshal Asim Munir, and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, of Pakistan, we have been asked to hold our Attack on the Country of Iran until such time as their leaders and representatives can come up with a unified proposal," Trump said. "I have therefore directed our Military to continue the Blockade and, in all other respects, remain ready and able, and will therefore extend the Ceasefire until such time as their proposal is submitted, and discussions are concluded, one way or the other."
Trump had previously said he wasn't interested in extending the agreement if a deal wasn't met by the deadline and expected expected "to be bombing" while speaking to CNBC's Squawk Box hours prior on Tuesday.