Iran reports 54 seafarer deaths, 253 vessels destroyed since conflict with US, Israel begins

Iran said on Wednesday that 54 seafarers had been killed, 66 injured and seven remained missing in maritime incidents linked to the conflict in the Middle East and related maritime restrictions, according to figures presented at a meeting of the International Maritime Organization (IMO).

Addressing the 76th session of the IMO Technical Cooperation Committee, an Iranian representative said the incidents had affected a total of 360 vessels, including 253 that were sunk or otherwise totally destroyed.

The representative said the conflict and related maritime restrictions had severely affected ships, seafarers, port operations, search and rescue services, emergency response systems, vessel traffic services, communications facilities and maritime safety infrastructure.

According to the figures presented by Iran, 28 seafarers were taken hostage since the end of February, five of whom remain in captivity.

The representative also reported damage to four maritime operations buildings, four vessel traffic service control stations and eight communications relay units, describing them as critical facilities for safe navigation, emergency coordination and maritime traffic management.

In a document submitted to the committee on June 8, Iran said a U.S. measure entitled "U.S. to Blockade Ships Entering or Exiting Iranian Ports," together with related restrictions, had disrupted commercial shipping, port access, voyage planning, navigational safety and the movement of ships and seafarers.

According to a report from British maritime analytics firm Windward published on Wednesday, five Iran-trading liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) carriers recently broke the U.S. blockade on Iranian ports, with four delivering cargoes to India and one to Pakistan.

Since April 13, the U.S. has imposed a naval blockade in the Strait of Hormuz on all ships trying to enter or leave Iranian ports, aiming to exert pressure on the country.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said on May 29 that the so-called U.S. naval blockade was unlawful from the start, and violated a ceasefire agreement and undermined the freedom of international navigation.

Iran reports 54 seafarer deaths, 253 vessels destroyed since conflict with US, Israel begins

President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that Iran has "taken too long to negotiate a deal" over the Mideast conflict and will now "have to pay the price," while Iran warned that any resumption of U.S. and Israeli air strikes would meet a "heavier" and "stronger" retaliation.

"Iran is all talk and no action," Trump said on Truth Social. "They've taken too long to negotiate a deal that would have been great for them, now they will have to pay the price."

In a phone interview with Fox News, Trump also suggested he may order new strikes on Iran's power plants and bridges.

"I may keep going," Trump said during the interview. "They had a chance to sign a deal and survive."

The president claimed Tehran has been "tapping the U.S. along" in peace talks that have ultimately made little progress.

During an interview later the same day, Trump said U.S. forces will continue striking Iran, one day after the United States launched strikes in southern Iran following the downing of a U.S. Army helicopter.

"We're going to hit them hard again today," he told reporters at the White House. "We're going to be attacking them and attacking them very hard."

The U.S. military reportedly hit about 20 targets in its strikes on Iran on Tuesday in response to the downing of the helicopter near the Strait of Hormuz. The targets included Iranian air defenses, radar sites and ground control stations, U.S. Central Command said in a statement on Tuesday.

In response to U.S. attacks and Trump's threats, Iranian Armed Forces spokesman Abolfazl Shekarchi said on Wednesday that Iran will respond to every threat from the United States "more severe, heavier, and stronger" than ever before.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Wednesday that Iran and the U.S. should move beyond "this state of neither war nor peace."

Speaking at an event commemorating late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, he noted that Iran must break free from a situation that is neither war nor peace, and said war is not in Iran's national interest.

But if "they seek to violate our land and our territory," Iran will never surrender and never retreat, he added.

Trump warns of new strikes on Iran over delayed talks, Iran vows stronger retaliation