Iran said it has seized two cargo ships in the Strait of Hormuz after opening fire on three commercial vessels on Wednesday, April 22, escalating tensions in the vital shipping lane and complicating efforts to revive US-Iran talks.
According to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), separate incidents were reported in and around the strait involving commercial ships.
A container vessel north-east of Oman reported being approached by an IRGC gunboat and fired upon, causing heavy damage to the bridge. No fire or environmental impact was reported, and all crew members were safe.
In another incident, an outbound cargo ship about eight nautical miles west of Iran reported coming under attack before being stopped in the water. UKMTO said all seafarers were accounted for.
Iranian state-linked media later reported that two vessels identified as MSC Francesca and Epaminondas had been taken into Revolutionary Guard custody and were being escorted to Iran. According to MarineTraffic data, Epaminondas, a Liberia-flagged container ship, had been travelling from Jebel Ali in Dubai to Gujarat.
Separate Iranian outlets said a third vessel, the Euphoria, had become stranded on the Iranian coast. Independent confirmation was not immediately available.
IRGC Navy warns of strict action in Hormuz
The Revolutionary Guard Navy said its forces would deal legally and firmly with any actions that violate regulations governing movement through the Strait of Hormuz.
US naval operations force 28 ships to turn back
The Washington Post, citing US military officials, reported that naval enforcement operations have forced at least 28 ships to turn back since the blockade began.
Iran sets Hormuz blockade removal as precondition for US talks
Iran has said it will only resume negotiations with the United States after Washington lifts its naval blockade, signalling a firm diplomatic condition amid fragile ceasefire tensions.
According to Tasnim News Agency, citing an interview with Rudlaw News Network at UN headquarters, Iran’s UN Ambassador Amir Saeid Iravani said Tehran is ready to return to talks only if the United States ends what it described as ceasefire violations, particularly the maritime blockade.
He said a new round of talks could take place in Istanbul if the restrictions are lifted.
Donald Trump announced an indefinite ceasefire extension at Pakistan’s request following appeals from Shehbaz Sharif and army chief Asim Munir.
However, the White House said JD Vance would not travel to Pakistan for the next round of talks, highlighting continued uncertainty around the peace process.
Pakistan steps up efforts to revive talks
Al Jazeera reported, citing a Pakistani government source, that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is consulting with ministers on ways to persuade Iran to return to negotiations.
The source said Sharif is expected to meet the foreign and interior ministers to explore options for bringing the Iranian delegation back to the table.
Oil prices ease after ceasefire extension
Oil prices fell on Wednesday after Donald Trump announced an indefinite extension of the ceasefire with Iran.
Brent crude futures were trading at USD 98.07 a barrel at 13:04 IST, while West Texas Intermediate futures fell to USD 89.21.
Both benchmark contracts had risen about 3 percent on Tuesday, according to Reuters.
Internet blackout enters 54th day
Network monitoring group NetBlocks said metrics show Iran has entered the 54th day of a nationwide internet blackout lasting more than 1,272 hours.
The group said the continuing shutdown was disproportionate and was concealing alleged human rights violations on the ground.
Schools repaired after strikes in Iran
Iran’s Education Minister Alireza Kazemi said 775 of the 1,300 schools damaged in US-Israeli attacks have now been repaired, according to IRNA.
Kazemi said about 20 schools were destroyed, with the heaviest damage reported in the provinces of Tehran, Kermanshah, Isfahan and Hormozgan.
He added that repairs to the most severely damaged schools are expected to be completed by October.
Iran continues oil exports despite US embargo: Report
Bloomberg, citing shipping data from analytics firm Vortexa, reported that Iran continues to export crude oil despite the US embargo, with tankers managing to bypass restrictions and reach global markets.
Trump says Iran under financial strain
Donald Trump said that Iran was “collapsing financially” bɓecause of the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. In a Truth Social post, he claimed Tehran wanted the waterway reopened immediɓately and was “starving for cash”, AFP reported.
Iran sentences Mossad informant to death
Iran’s judiciary said a citizen found guilty of transmitting sensitive information to Israel’s Mossad intelligence agency has been handed a death sentence, according to reports.
