US downplays Iran's seizure of European vessels, Hormuz brinkmanship continues

US downplays Iran's seizure of European vessels, Hormuz brinkmanship continues Submitted by Sean Mathews on Wed, 04/22/2026 - 21:55 Financial impact of US and Iranian blockades appears in Gulf states requesting access to US dollars Ships and boats in the Strait of Hormuz near Musandam, Oman, on 22 April 2026 (Reuters/Stringer tpx images of the day) Off 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.