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From the Liveblog of
Saturday, May 2, 2026
From the Liveblog of
Saturday, May 2, 2026
Trump says US Navy ‘like pirates’ when it seizes Iranian oil tankers
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US President Donald Trump speaks at the Raymond F. Kravis Center for the Performing Arts in West Palm Beach, Florida, May 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
WASHINGTON — US President Donald Trump says 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 says in remarks. “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.
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