Iran says seven vessels hit as Trump signals US wants lasting end to war

DUBAI: Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy said on Thursday that seven vessels had been hit in and around the Persian Gulf and Strait of Hormuz, as US President Donald Trump said Washington could end the war with Iran now but wanted to ensure any outcome lasted “for a long time”.

The IRGC Navy said four vessels allegedly involved in illegal oil transfers in the northern Persian Gulf were struck simultaneously and caught fire after being tracked by Iranian forces on Wednesday, Reuters reported.

It added that three other vessels had collided with mines west of the Strait of Hormuz.

The Iranian force did not immediately provide details about casualties, the identities or nationalities of the vessels, or the extent of the damage.

The IRGC also warned the United States against what it described as continued military provocations, saying further action could trigger a broader Iranian response targeting US bases across the region.

The developments came as Trump suggested the conflict could end soon, although he indicated Washington wanted guarantees that any settlement would endure.

“It’ll end very soon. We could leave now, but we want to make sure it lasts for a long time,” Trump said during a rally in South Carolina on Wednesday.

Trump claimed that the United States had defeated Iran militarily and financially and reiterated that Tehran would not be permitted to acquire a nuclear weapon.

He also said the US had imposed a blockade on the Strait of Hormuz, referring to the strategic waterway as the “Trump Strait”.

“We changed the name of the Gulf of Mexico. Why can’t we change the name of the Hormuz Strait?” he said.

The Strait of Hormuz has remained one of the central flashpoints of the conflict because of its importance to global oil and gas shipments.

The United States and Israel launched military operations against Iran on February 28, prompting Tehran to retaliate with missile and drone attacks across the region and restrictions on navigation through the strait.

Pakistan and Qatar subsequently mediated between Washington and Tehran, leading to a memorandum of understanding in June. However, the process has since stalled amid disagreements, including over navigation through Hormuz.

Trump’s comments also followed a New York Times report that US and Israeli military officials had developed plans for possible renewed strikes against Iran after the US midterm elections.

The newspaper reported, citing American officials and others briefed on the discussions, that no decision had been made and that Trump had previously rejected proposals for a return to large-scale combat.

A White House official told the newspaper that the administration did not comment on military plans that “may or may not exist”.