Dubai: Iran opened fire on three commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday, escalating tensions in a critical global energy corridor and further complicating efforts to resume talks with the United States aimed at ending the ongoing conflict.
According to Iranian media, the attacks were carried out by the country’s paramilitary Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. The incidents came shortly after US President Donald Trump announced an indefinite extension of the ceasefire with Iran, which had been set to expire on Wednesday, while maintaining a blockade on Iranian ports.
The developments underscore the continued risks to maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic waterway through which around 20 per cent of the world’s oil and natural gas passes during peacetime. Analysts warn that even if large-scale hostilities remain paused, continued disruptions in the strait could weigh heavily on the global economy.
Iran has not formally acknowledged the US decision to extend the ceasefire. However, an Iranian diplomat indicated that negotiations would not resume unless the blockade is lifted.
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said a container ship was fired upon by a Revolutionary Guard gunboat on Wednesday morning, followed by an attack on a second vessel shortly afterwards. The UKMTO noted that no prior warning was issued before the first attack and confirmed that no casualties were reported.
Iranian state television later reported that the vessels—identified as MSC Francesca and Epaminodes—had been seized and were being taken into Iranian custody. The ship owners could not be immediately reached for comment.
In a further escalation, Iran’s semi-official Nour, Fars and Mehr news agencies reported that a third vessel, Euphoria, was also targeted and had become “stranded” along the Iranian coast, though details remained unclear.
Iranian media defended the actions, with Nour News stating that the Guard opened fire only after the vessel ignored warnings from Iranian forces. Fars News Agency described the operation as a lawful enforcement of Iran’s control over the strait.
The incidents mark a significant escalation, with Iranian authorities appearing to adopt a tougher stance following earlier rounds of negotiations with the Trump administration that ended in open conflict.
Since the conflict began on February 28 with US and Israeli airstrikes on Iran, more than 30 maritime attacks have been reported across the Middle East.
Iran’s capacity to disrupt shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has emerged as a major strategic lever. Despite the ceasefire halting US and Israeli airstrikes and Iranian missile strikes on Israel and the wider region, maritime tensions remain high.
Without a diplomatic breakthrough, such attacks could persist, discouraging shipping traffic and placing further strain on global energy supplies.
Iran signalled continued defiance, with the Revolutionary Guard vowing to deliver “crushing blows beyond the enemy’s imagination” against remaining targets in the region. A day earlier, hardline supporters staged rallies showcasing missile systems, in a display aimed at the US and Israel, which had targeted Iran’s ballistic missile capabilities during their air campaign.
Uncertainty also surrounds the resumption of talks. Two Pakistani officials said Islamabad is awaiting confirmation from Tehran on sending a delegation for another round of negotiations. They spoke on condition of anonymity as they were not authorised to brief the media.
Mojtaba Ferdousi Pour, head of Iran’s mission in Egypt, told The Associated Press that no delegation would be dispatched to Pakistan unless the US lifts its blockade.
Meanwhile, tensions persist across the region. In Lebanon, the state-run National News Agency reported that an Israeli drone strike on the village of Jabbour killed one person and injured two others, though Israel’s military denied carrying out the attack.
A 10-day ceasefire in Lebanon came into effect on Friday, but sporadic violence continues, with multiple Israeli strikes reported and Hezbollah claiming an attack on Tuesday.
Since the start of the war, Iranian authorities say at least 3,375 people have been killed in Iran. More than 2,290 people have died in Lebanon, while 23 fatalities have been reported in Israel and over a dozen in Gulf Arab states. The conflict has also claimed the lives of 15 Israeli soldiers in Lebanon and 13 US service members across the region.
With PTI inputs