Middle East on edge again: Two ships attacked in Strait of Hormuz
Two vessels came under attack in the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday, further complicating fragile diplomatic efforts to bring the United States and Iran to the negotiating table.Earlier in the day, Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard opened fire on a container ship, damaging it but causing no injuries.The British military’s United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said the vessel was hit around 7:55 am (local time), adding that a Guard gunboat did not hail the ship before firing.
Iranian media outlet Nour News claimed the Guard acted only after the ship had “ignored the warnings of the Iranian armed forces,” while Fars described the action as “lawfully enforcing” control over the strait.Also read: ‘Ignored repeated warnings’ – Iran fires on container ship in Strait of HormuzUKMTO, however, maintained that no prior warning was issued before the firing. It added that there were no casualties or environmental impact in either incident.In a second incident, another cargo vessel reported it had been fired upon and was forced to stop in the water.While no damage was reported in that case, suspicion immediately fell on Iran, reported news agency AP.
Ceasefire extension amid rising tensions
The attacks come just days after US forces seized an Iranian container ship and boarded an oil tanker linked to Tehran’s trade in the Indian Ocean.Late Tuesday, Donald Trump announced an indefinite extension of the ceasefire to allow time for a “unified proposal” from Iran, even as Washington continues its naval blockade.Iran has not formally acknowledged the extension and has criticised the blockade as “unacceptable,” signalling it may not join talks in Islamabad under current conditions.Also read: ‘Lift the blockade’ – Iran sets condition for round two of peace talks in PakistanPakistan, meanwhile, continues mediation efforts. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif thanked Trump for the extension, saying it would support ongoing diplomacy.
Strategic waterway under pressure
The Strait of Hormuz remains central to the crisis. In peacetime, about 20% of global oil and gas supplies pass through the route, making any disruption a major concern for global markets.Since the war began, Iran has restricted shipping through the strait, pushing oil prices sharply higher and adding pressure on the global economy.Despite international calls for de-escalation, including from the United Nations, the latest attacks highlight the fragile nature of the ceasefire, with both sides warning they are prepared to resume fighting if negotiations fail.