US President Donald Trump compared a US Navy operation to seize a ship during the blockade of Iranian ports to piracy, saying the military is 'acting like pirates' and calling it 'a very profitable business.'

Speaking at a rally in Florida on Friday, Trump described the operation: 'We land on top of it and we took over the ship. We took over the cargo, took over the oil.' The crowd cheered as he added, 'We're sort of like pirates. But we're not playing games.'

The remarks come after the US and Israel attacked Iran on February 28, prompting Iranian retaliation strikes on Israel and Gulf states hosting US bases. Iran also blocked the Strait of Hormuz, a vital waterway for 20% of global oil and gas.

A ceasefire took effect on April 8, but Trump imposed a blockade of Iranian ports and the Strait of Hormuz on April 13. Pakistan-mediated negotiations to end the war are ongoing.

Trump said he was 'not satisfied' with Iran's latest peace proposal and warned he would 'blast them away' if talks fail. Iran's military headquarters reportedly stated that a resumption of war is likely, accusing the US of not being committed to any agreement.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei asserted that the American public has the 'undeniable right' to hold the Trump administration accountable for the 'war of choice' against Iran, calling it 'a clear, unprovoked act of aggression.'

Trump faced a May 1 deadline under the 1973 War Powers Resolution to secure congressional authorization for the war, but the deadline passed without action. Former US Ambassador Douglas Silliman told Al Jazeera that Trump is allegedly trying to undermine Congress's legal authority, redefining the war's timeline to avoid seeking approval.

Source: www.aljazeera.com