Iran has seized two commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz, further strengthening its control over the vital waterway just hours after US President Donald Trump halted planned attacks and extended the ceasefire with Tehran.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said the vessels entered the strait without coordination and violated maritime regulations. Iranian media also reported a third vessel was targeted and left disabled near Iran’s coast. Earlier, UK maritime monitors said an Iranian gunboat fired on a container ship near Oman, causing heavy damage to the bridge but no casualties.
The Strait of Hormuz handles around a fifth of global oil supply, making any disruption there significant for world markets. Iranian officials have also discussed new transit fees and tighter oversight for vessels passing through the chokepoint, signalling a continued strategy of asserting authority over regional waters.
Sources: Reuters, Al Jazeera, CNN
