President Donald Trump announced on Tuesday that the United States will pause its naval operation to escort vessels through the Strait of and Hormuz. The decision follows reports of significant progress toward a final agreement with Iran, according to a social media post by the President.
Trump stated the pause was made at the request of Pakistan and other nations. He cited "tremendous Military Success" during the campaign against Iran as a factor in the decision to seek a settlement, according to France24.
Despite the pause in escorting stranded vessels, the administration intends to keep the blockade of Iranian ports in place. The move occurs as US forces continue to maintain pressure on Iranian maritime routes during ongoing negotiations.
Maritime Seizure and the Return of Capture Law
Simultaneously, the United States has utilized the 'right of capture' to seize the M/V Touska, a vessel originating from China. Xataka Mexico reports that US Marines intercepted the ship under the premise that it violated a blockade targeting Iranian ports.
While the vessel was sailing under an Iranian flag, its route from China to Iran triggered US intervention. President Trump suggested the ship might have been carrying a "gift from China," a claim the Chinese government has rejected, stating China remains a model of international obligation, per Xataka Mexico.
This seizure marks a rare resurgence of a legal doctrine used extensively during the Second World War. The 'right of capture' allows a state to seize enemy military goods or assets during wartime, a practice that had seen little significant use since the mid-20th century.
If a tribunal validates the seizure, the vessel and its cargo could fall into the hands of the US state. This action has caused concern among shipping operators regarding the risks of navigating routes connected to sanctioned destinations.
New AI Oversight and the Mythos Model
In a separate shift in domestic policy, the Trump administration has replaced the Institute for AI Safety with the CAISI. This new body is tasked with evaluating new artificial intelligence models before their public release, according to Expansión.
This change follows Trump's previous efforts to remove regulations established during the Biden administration, which he viewed as threats to American competitiveness against China. However, the emergence of a new model named 'Mythos,' developed by Anthropic, appears to have prompted a return to government scrutiny.
Anthropic has not yet released Mythos to the public due to its advanced ability to identify cybersecurity vulnerabilities. The National Security Agency (NSA) has reportedly gained access to the model to conduct testing, according as reported by Expansión.
"An independent and rigorous science of measurement is essential to understand cutting-edge AI and its implications for national security," said Chris Fall, director of the CAISI, on Tuesday.
As the US continues to monitor both maritime trade and advanced software capabilities, the administration's approach highlights a simultaneous push for deregulation and heightened surveillance of specific technological and strategic threats.
