Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) fired on vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday, complicating ongoing negotiations.
The IRGC fired on three vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz, according to information from the British military’s UKMTO. The action took place a day after President Donald Trump announced an indefinite ceasefire in a Truth Social post until the Iranian government would agree to resume in-person negotiations that were originally slated to take place in Pakistan.
The IRGC seized two of the vessels, according to reporting from The Associated Press. Iranian state media claimed the Iranian military was allegedly taking the ships back to Iran.
The ships that were hit were the Panama-flagged MSC Francesca, Liberia-flagged Epaminondas and the Liberia-flagged Euphoria, according to Reuters.
“Based on the fact that the Government of Iran is seriously fractured, not unexpectedly so and, upon the request of Field Marshal Asim Munir, and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, of Pakistan, we have been asked to hold our Attack on the Country of Iran until such time as their leaders and representatives can come up with a unified proposal. I have therefore directed our Military to continue the Blockade and, in all other respects, remain ready and able, and will therefore extend the Ceasefire until such time as their proposal is submitted, and discussions are concluded, one way or the other,” Trump said in the Truth Social post on Tuesday.
The leader of the Council of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) condemned the threats and attacks that were being leveled against ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz.
“Let it be the responsibility of each and every one of us to demonstrate that inaction is not an option, that words alone are not sufficient,” IMO Secretary General Arsenio Dominguez said during an address on March 19. “Together, we can drive the change required to protect the well-being of those who have no voice and safeguard the principle of freedom of navigation.”
Vice President J.D. Vance had been slated to depart for Pakistan for talks Tuesday but had not left Washington, D.C., as the negotiations were delayed, The New York Times reported. Vance previously led an American delegation to Islamabad, Pakistan, on April 11 to negotiate an end to the conflict with Iran, but left after 21-hour negotiations failed to yield a deal.
Iran’s leadership was reportedly divided on whether to continue peace talks, Axios reported, with some sources saying that the Iranian delegation might not depart as the IRGC was demanding that the U.S.’s blockade be lifted before negotiations could continue.
Trump imposed the blockade on April 12 after Iran imposed a toll on ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz. The president earlier Tuesday indicated he wouldn’t extend the ceasefire, before reversing course later in the day.
Shortly after the April 7 ceasefire, hostilities nearly resumed after an April 8 wave of Israeli strikes targeted Hezbollah, a proxy group of Iran in Lebanon. Trump announced Israel and Lebanon had reached a ten-day ceasefire agreement on April 16.
The Pentagon didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment from the Daily Caller News Foundation.
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