US downplays Iran's seizure of European vessels

US downplays Iran's seizure of European vessels The US downplayed Iran's seizure of two European-owned vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, as both sides sought the upper hand in their rival maritime blockades, with a stalemate in negotiations to end the war showing no sign of breaking. Iran attacked three ships in the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday and escorted two of the vessels to Iranian waters. The operations demonstrated that two months into the war, Iran’s small attack boats can still control traffic in the waterway, despite US claims that its navy has been decimated.