Online Desk: Iranian forces have seized two “non-compliant” cargo ships in the strategic Strait of Hormuz, according to Iranian state media, escalating tensions just hours after the United States announced an extension of the ceasefire between Washington and Tehran.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) gunboats opened fire on at least one of the vessels early Wednesday morning before escorting both ships to the Iranian coast. The two vessels have been identified as the MSC Francesca, a Panama-flagged ship, and the Epaminondas, a Liberian-flagged vessel owned by a Greek company. Both were traveling out of the Gulf of Oman when they came under attack.
According to Tasnim News, the IRGC navy command stated that the cargo ships had “endangered maritime security” and warned that “disruption of order and security in the Strait of Hormuz is our red line.”
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations centre has reported “heavy damage” to the bridge of one of the vessels. Vessel-tracking data also indicates that a third ship, the Panama-flagged Euphoria, was attacked by Iran on Wednesday morning, though details on its condition remain unclear.
Timing Raises Eyebrows
The seizures came just hours after US President Donald Trump announced a last-minute extension of the ceasefire with Iran on Tuesday night. Trump had been threatening to resume bombing of Iranian infrastructure but instead gave the regime’s leadership additional time to submit a unified peace proposal.
However, not everyone in Iran sees the US president’s move as a genuine peace gesture. Mehdi Mohammadi, an adviser to Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Iran’s key negotiator, warned that Trump’s ceasefire extension is “certainly a ploy to buy time for a surprise strike.”
Pakistan’s Mediation Role
The development in the Strait of Hormuz comes as Pakistan continues its diplomatic efforts to broker peace between the United States and Iran. The second round of Islamabad Talks is still pending, with Pakistani officials awaiting a formal response from the Iranian side regarding their participation.
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar has consistently emphasized that dialogue and diplomacy remain the only viable path to regional peace and stability. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif of Pakistan has also expressed hope that both the US and Iran will observe the ceasefire and work toward a comprehensive peace deal.
Whether the seizure of these cargo ships will impact the fragile ceasefire or derail the upcoming peace talks remains to be seen. For now, the Strait of Hormuz – a critical chokepoint through which about 20% of the world’s oil passes – has once again become a flashpoint in the volatile region.
