Day 62 of the WarThursday, April 30, 2026
Day 62 — CENTCOM: 44 Vessels Redirected, $6B Iranian Oil Sales Halted — Trump Rebrands Hormuz 'Trump Strait' — IEA: 'Largest Energy Crisis in History' — Pezeshkian Moves Against Araghchi
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Iran International: Pezeshkian + Ghalibaf Seek Dismissal of FM Araghchi Over Coordination With Vahidi — Mojtaba Khamenei Telegram: 'Great Satan,' 'New Order' — Tasnim/Raja News Public Faction War
- Iran International reports, citing two informed sources, that Masoud Pezeshkian and Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf are seeking the dismissal of Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi due to dissatisfaction with his diplomatic conduct — believing he has acted without their knowledge and in coordination with IRGC commander Ahmad Vahidi during the Oman talks and subsequent overtures to Pakistan. Two Iranian outlets, Tasnim (IRGC-aligned) and Raja News (Stability Front), have engaged in unprecedented public dispute reflecting the IRGC vs Stability Front faction split. Manoochehr Mottaki (parliament, former FM) said enemies in the 12-day war were deterred from killing Khamenei but in the 40-day war they 'carried out their threats'; Mottaki added Khamenei had rejected security measures and was in his office at the time of the attack.
- A Telegram channel affiliated with Mojtaba Khamenei published a series of messages attributed to him: emphasizing the strategic role of the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz, describing the U.S. presence as 'a major factor of insecurity' and the 'Great Satan,' and proclaiming the formation of a 'new order for the region and the world' under the Islamic Republic's resistance policies; he called on '90 million Iranians' to safeguard the nuclear and missile programs as national assets equal to defending the country's borders. Bozorgmehr Sharafeddin (Iran International digital head) interviewed regional analysts framing this as Mojtaba's first sustained public political projection — interpreted as positioning for succession amid the Mohajerani / Pezeshkian / Vahidi triangulation.
Baha'i International: Pandoo & Borna Naemi at Imminent Execution Risk — Israeli Navy Detains 175 Gaza-Bound Activists Near Crete — Canada PM Carney: IRGC Correctly Designated, Mehdi Taj Deported From Vancouver
- The Baha'i International Community in a public communiqué warned that Pandoo Naemi (arrested January 8) and Borna Naemi (arrested March 10), two young Baha'i prisoners in Iran, are at imminent risk of execution — both have been subjected to torture and accused of involvement in the deaths of Basij members during protests, but no trial has occurred and no evidence has been presented. The statement asks for urgent international intervention. Baha'i community sources confirm both names connect to the wider escalating pattern of regime persecution since the start of the war.
- The Israeli Navy detained approximately 175 activists from the 'Global Solidarity Convoy' near the Greek island of Crete — the convoy was attempting to challenge Israel's naval blockade of the Gaza Strip; Israeli officials intercepted 21 of the 58 vessels and warned the rest to alter course. Canadian PM Mark Carney told reporters during the FIFA Congress in Vancouver that the IRGC has been correctly designated as a terrorist group in Canada, and that Mehdi Taj (President of Iran's Football Federation) and his delegation were rightly deported from Vancouver airport. The diaspora protests outside the FIFA venue carried Lion-and-Sun flags; protesters demanded Iran's national football team be banned from the 2026 World Cup. Day 62 of the international internet shutdown.
CENTCOM: 44 Commercial Vessels Redirected, $6B in Iranian Oil Sales Halted — Trump Rebrands Hormuz as 'Trump Strait' on Truth Social — Putin–Trump Call Endorses Extended Ceasefire
Gulf & Naval- U.S. Central Command publicly confirmed today that 44 commercial vessels have been ordered to turn around or return to port since the U.S. naval blockade began on April 13. CENTCOM separately announced a milestone: the 42nd vessel was successfully redirected, halting an estimated $6 billion in Iranian oil sales — approximately 69 million barrels — that the regime had attempted to move out of Iranian ports. CENTCOM imagery shows U.S. Marines aboard USS New Orleans (LPD 18) standing watch in the Arabian Sea during blockade operations. Vortexa data confirms only ~4 million barrels of Iranian crude exited the Sea of Oman between April 13 and April 25, an 80% reduction versus the same window in March (23.4 million barrels).
- Donald Trump on Truth Social published a map of southern Iran labeling the Strait of Hormuz as the 'Trump Strait' — the second time he has used the renaming. RadioFarda reports Putin spoke by phone with Trump on Wednesday; Putin's foreign-policy aide Yuri Ushakov stated that Putin endorsed Trump's decision to extend the ceasefire with Iran to stabilize the region, while floating a temporary Ukraine ceasefire to mark the end-of-WWII anniversary. Trump in the Oval Office (during a meeting with the Artemis 2 astronauts) said Iran must 'surrender' due to the impact of the blockade. WSJ confirms Trump told reporters Iran is desperate; White House spokesperson Olivia Wells said economic and military pressure has given Trump 'the tools and the time'.
CENTCOM Requests Black Eagle Hypersonic Missile to Middle East — Cooper + Caine Brief Trump on Strikes, Hormuz Seizure, Special Forces Isfahan Raid for 60% Enriched Uranium
Gulf & Naval- Bloomberg reports CENTCOM has requested transfer of the U.S. Army's Black Eagle hypersonic missile to the Middle East for potential use against targets in Iran — the first deployment of this system if approved. Open source reporting indicates the Islamic Republic has already moved its launchers out of range of the U.S. Army Precision Strike Missile (~300 mile reach). Axios reports Trump on Thursday is briefed by General Erik Kurilla (CENTCOM commander, outgoing) and additionally by Admiral Brad Cooper (incoming CENTCOM) and General Dan Caine (Chairman, Joint Chiefs) on military options including infrastructure strikes, partial Hormuz seizure, and a special forces operation to seize Iran's enriched uranium stockpiles.
- IRGC Navy Command issued a public statement announcing 'new equations and rules' for managing the Persian Gulf — claiming dominance over nearly 2,000 km of Iranian coastline and the Strait, framed as providing 'sustenance and power' for Iranians and 'security and prosperity' for the region. Tasnim reported that six Iranian crew members from the seized Tosca have been released to Iran through Islamic Republic 'follow-up' efforts, with 22 crew remaining in U.S. custody. Rafael Grossi (IAEA) told the Associated Press that the majority of the Islamic Republic's enriched uranium is likely still stored at the Esfahan nuclear complex, where it was relocated at the start of the 12-day war and has remained since; the IAEA also has satellite imagery of the U.S. and Israeli strike effects.
IEA Birol: 'Largest Energy Crisis in History' — Brent $126/bbl — Bessent (Newsmax): Blockade Costs Iran ~$500M/Day — Iran Crude Exports Fall 80% per Vortexa
- Fatih Birol, Executive Director of the International Energy Agency, stated at a Paris conference that the crisis resulting from the Iran war is the 'largest energy crisis in history' — with oil prices surging to $126/barrel after Trump's announcement of the extended naval blockade. U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent (Newsmax) said Trump would not approve a proposal to provide enriched uranium to Iran in exchange for halting its nuclear program; Bessent stated Iran's economy is collapsing due to the U.S. blockade costing the country approximately $500 million daily. Vortexa data: only ~4 million barrels of Iranian crude exited the Sea of Oman between April 13 and 25, an 80% reduction from March (23.4 million barrels) — confirming structural collapse of the export pipeline.
- Reuters reports that the passage of the Japanese oil tanker through the Strait of Hormuz with Iranian permission has had widespread repercussions in East Asia. The Islamic Republic embassy in Tokyo cited 'long-standing friendship' dating back to the Pahlavi era as the reason for permission. Iran International correspondent flags that this selective-passage diplomacy is being used by Tehran to drive wedges between Western allies — singling out Japan as a 'friendly' country while continuing to block U.S. and EU-flagged commerce. The Pezeshkian government statement on 'National Persian Gulf Day' framed the U.S. blockade as 'contrary to regional interests' and predicted it will fail.