The U.K. Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported that an Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) gun boat approached and then fired on a container ship located 15 nautical miles northeast of Oman. That attack caused “heavy damage” to the ship’s bridge, while no fires or environmental damage were reported and the crew was reported safe, according to the organization.
Later in the day, UKMTO noted that an outbound cargo ship eight nautical miles west of Iran was fired upon and had to stop in the water. In that case, the crew was also safe and there was no reported damage to the vessel.
The Fars News Agency in Iran, which is close to the IRGC, reported Wednesday morning that two “violating” ships were seized by the IRGC Navy and directed to the coast of Iran. It is unclear whether those ships are the same ones reported by the UKMTO.
On Tuesday afternoon, Trump announced that he was extending the ceasefire with Iran until officials from the latter return to the negotiating table.
“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,” the president wrote in a post on Truth Social.
He also instructed the U.S. military to continue its naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, which has been in place since April 13. That was in response to the IRGC restricting shipping through the waterway, a move that has rocked the oil industry and led to higher prices for gas and other items, such as fertilizer, in the U.S.
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), a close Senate ally to Trump, said the U.S. blockade of Iran’s oil shipments “will be growing” and “could become global soon,” sending a blunt warning to countries that have helped Iran sell its oil supplies.
Later Tuesday, Trump claimed that Iran “doesn’t want the Strait of Hormuz closed, they want it open.” But the regime is keeping restrictions in place to “save face,” he said.
“People approached me four days ago, saying, ‘Sir, Iran wants to open up the Strait, immediately,’” the president wrote on Truth Social. “But if we do that, there can never be a Deal with Iran, unless we blow up the rest of their Country, their leaders included!”
Read the full report at thehill.com.
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