Tehran Announces Seizure of Two Ships in Strait of Hormuz as Iranian Adviser Dismisses Cease-Fire Extension

(SeaPRwire) –   Iran has announced the seizure of two ships in the Strait of Hormuz during the ongoing U.S. blockade, coming just hours after President Donald Trump declared an extension to the cease-fire.

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy stated Wednesday morning that it had detained two vessels, citing violations of maritime law. According to state media, the ships have been moved to Iranian ports.

These reports represent a major escalation in Iran’s grip on the essential waterway, which handles roughly 20% of global oil output. This marks the first time Tehran has captured vessels since the conflict began on February 28.

Earlier on Wednesday, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) noted that two ships in the Strait were targeted by gunfire. A third ship, the Euphoria, was also reportedly fired upon.

Iranian state news outlets identified the two IRGC-seized vessels as the Epaminondas and the MSC Francesca.

The volatility in the Strait is putting further pressure on the newly extended and precarious cease-fire between the U.S. and Iran.

While Washington is prepared for upcoming peace negotiations in Islamabad, Pakistan, it is still uncertain if Tehran intends to go.

Vice President J.D. Vance, who is slated to lead the American delegation again, has not yet departed as the administration waits for a signal from Iranian leaders.

It also remains unclear if Iran fully supports the extension of the truce.

Mahdi Mohammadi, an aide to Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, has dismissed the continued pause in combat.

“Trump’s extension of the cease-fire is irrelevant. The side that is losing cannot set the conditions. Maintaining the siege is the same as a bombardment and requires a military response,” he claimed.

Reflecting Iran’s skepticism of Washington, he further alleged: “Furthermore, Trump’s extension is clearly a tactic to gain time for a surprise attack. The moment for Iran to take the lead has arrived.”

The battle for control over the Strait intensified over the weekend when the U.S. Navy intercepted an Iranian vessel in the Gulf of Oman as it tried to break the blockade.

Tehran has strongly maintained that both the blockade and the ship seizure were breaches of the cease-fire. Conversely, the U.S. has repeatedly accused Iran of violating the original truce.

With reports of gunfire and seized vessels in the Strait, the path toward a lasting resolution to the war remains uncertain.

Status of U.S.-Iran peace negotiations remains unclear

The Iranian news outlet Tasnim reported Tuesday that the nation’s negotiators see “no prospect of participating in the negotiations.”

Esmail Baghaei, a spokesperson for Iran’s Foreign Ministry, informed state television that the hesitation was not due to indecision, but rather “contradictory messages” coming from Washington.

“This is not caused by indecision; it is due to the conflicting messages, behaviors, and unacceptable moves by the American side,” he stated.

Pakistan, which brokered the first cease-fire and is set to host the next round of discussions, continues to call for both nations to return to the negotiating table.

“I am very grateful to President Trump for accepting our request to extend the cease-fire so that diplomatic efforts can continue,” said Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. “I truly hope both parties will respect the cease-fire and reach a comprehensive ‘Peace Deal’ during the second round of talks in Islamabad to end the conflict permanently.”

Crude oil prices climb amid Strait volatility

Following the news of the Iranian ship seizures, Brent crude oil prices rose by more than 1.8% on Wednesday, climbing above $100 a barrel.

With the global market facing continued instability, and the International Energy Agency (IEA) calling the war in Iran the “biggest” energy crisis ever, international leaders are desperate for a fix that allows the Strait to reopen safely.

Kaja Kallas, the EU’s foreign affairs chief, stated that “freedom of navigation is non-negotiable” and described the current chaos in the vital waterway as “reckless.”

The U.K. is beginning a two-day summit on Wednesday with military officials from over 30 nations to “develop military strategies to reopen the Strait as soon as a lasting cease-fire agreement makes it possible.”