Washington: President Donald Trump said on Friday the US Navy was acting “like pirates” in carrying out Washington’s naval blockade of Iranian ports during the US and Israel’s war against Iran.Trump made the comments while describing the seizure by US forces of a ship a few days ago.”We took over the ship, we took over the cargo, we took over the oil. It’s a very profitable business,” Trump said in remarks on Friday evening. “We’re like pirates. We’re sort of like pirates but we are not playing games.”Some of Tehran’s vessels have been seized by the US after leaving Iranian ports, along with sanctioned container ships and Iranian tankers in Asian waters.Iran has blocked nearly all ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz apart from its own since the start of the war. Trump has imposed a separate blockade of Iranian ports.The US and Israel attacked Iran on February 28. Iran responded with its own strikes on Israel and Gulf states that host US bases. US-Israeli strikes on Iran and Israeli attacks in Lebanon have killed thousands and displaced millions.The war has raised oil prices and led to the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, a chokepoint for about 20% of global oil and liquefied natural gas shipments.Trump, who has offered shifting timelines and goals for the war that remains unpopular in the US, has faced widespread condemnation over his comments on the conflict, including when he threatened to destroy Iran’s entire civilization last month.Many US experts said last month that American strikes on Iran may amount to war crimes after Trump threatened to target civilian infrastructure. (Agencies)US warns shipping firms over paying Iran to transit Strait of HormuzMay 2, 2026 10:30 pmThe United States (US) is warning shipping companies they could face sanctions for making payments to Iran to safely pass through the Strait of Hormuz. The US Office of Foreign Assets Control alert posted on Friday adds pressure in the standoff between the US and Iran over control of the strait at the mouth of the Persian Gulf, where about a fifth of the world’s trade in oil and natural gas typically passes. The US Central Command has said 45 commercial ships have been told to turn around since the blockade began.Trump says ‘not satisfied’ with new Iran proposalMay 2, 2026 6:20 pmPresident Donald Trump said on Friday he was not satisfied with the latest Iranian proposal for talks on the Iran war, while Iran’s foreign minister said Tehran was ready for diplomacy if the United States changes its approach. Trump’s comments indicated the deadlock over the two-month-old war is likely to persist, even as he looks to end a conflict that remains deeply unpopular among Americans. Meanwhile, US relations with its traditional allies were further strained over Iran on Friday, as the United States announced it was withdrawing 5,000 troops from Germany. Trump had threatened a drawdown over differences with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who said on Monday the Iranians were humiliating the United States and that the Americans lacked an exit strategy. (Agencies)Iran executes 2 for spying for IsraelMay 2, 2026 12:36 pmIran executed two men on Saturday accused of spying for Israel, including one accused of gathering intelligence near the Natanz nuclear site in central Isfahan province, Iranian media reported.Spirit Airlines shuts down, industry’s 1st Iran war casualtyMay 2, 2026 12:22 pmBankrupt discount carrier Spirit Airlines ceased operations on Saturday, the industry’s first casualty linked to the Iran war, after failing to secure creditor support for a U.S. government bailout plan. The collapse of the first carrier due to a doubling in jet fuel prices during the two-month-old Iran war will cost thousands of jobs. It is a blow to President Donald Trump, who had proposed $500 million to save Spirit despite opposition from some of his closest advisers and many Republicans in Congress.Trump says US Navy acting ‘like pirates’ to carry out naval blockade of Iranian portsMay 2, 2026 9:52 amPresident Donald Trump said on Friday the US Navy was acting “like pirates” in carrying out Washington’s naval blockade of Iranian ports during the U.S. and Israel’s war against Iran. Trump made the comments while describing the seizure by US forces of a ship a few days ago. “We took over the ship, we took over the cargo, we took over the oil. It’s a very profitable business,” Trump said in remarks on Friday evening. “We’re like pirates. We’re sort of like pirates but we are not playing games.”Iran’s foreign minister cites US’ ‘excessive approach’May 2, 2026 8:23 amIran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said his country was ready to pursue diplomacy if the United States changes what he called its “excessive approach, threatening rhetoric and provocative actions.” However, Araqchi added in a post on his Telegram channel that “Iran’s armed forces remained ready to defend the country against any threat.” Iran has activated air defenses and plans a wide response if attacked, having assessed that there will be a short, intensive U.S. strike, possibly followed by an Israeli attack, two senior Iranian sources told Reuters on condition of anonymity.Trump says Iran asking for things ‘I can’t agree to’May 2, 2026 8:22 am”They want to make a deal, but … I’m not satisfied with it,” Trump told reporters at the White House, adding that the Iranian leadership was “very disjointed” and split into two or three groups. “They’re asking for things that I can’t agree to,” he said, adding that negotiations by phone were continuing. Later on Friday, during a speech in Florida, Trump said the United States would not end its confrontation with Iran early “and then have the problem arise in three more years.” Trump has said Iran would not be allowed to have a nuclear weapon. He is also under pressure to break Iran’s hold on the strait, which has choked off 20 per cent of the world’s oil and gas supplies.