Iran's forces attacked three commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday, hours after President Trump extended a ceasefire with Iran while maintaining a U.S. naval blockade. The incidents have jeopardized peace talks, with Iranian officials calling the blockade a violation. No injuries were reported, but one vessel suffered heavy damage.
Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard approached a container ship in the Strait of Hormuz and fired upon it, causing heavy damage to the bridge, according to the British military's United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO). Iran's Tasnim News Agency said the ship ignored repeated warnings. Iranian media reported that the navy seized two other vessels, the MSC Francesca and the Epaminondas, while a third cargo ship, the Euphoria, came under fire with no damage reported. A senior Iranian official dismissed Trump's ceasefire extension as meaningless without lifting the blockade of Iranian ports. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian stated that dialogue is welcome but that the blockade and threats hinder negotiations. Speaker of parliament Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf echoed that the ceasefire requires no maritime blockade, and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi called port blockades an act of war. President Trump extended the two-week ceasefire at Pakistan's request, hours before its expiry, to allow Iran time for a unified proposal. He posted on Truth Social that Iran's economy is collapsing, losing $500 million daily due to the blockade. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent confirmed the U.S. Navy would continue operations to constrain Iran's oil revenue. Vice President Vance's planned talks in Islamabad fell through after Iran declined to attend. The U.N.'s António Guterres welcomed the extension as a step toward de-escalation. The U.K. and France hosted a conference with over 30 nations to address mines in the strait and safeguard shipping, amid rising global fuel costs.
