Ships attacked in Strait of Hormuz as Iran–US tensions deepen

Two vessels have come under fire in the Strait of Hormuz, according to the UK Maritime Trade Operations Centre (UKMTO).

The UKMTO says Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) targeted a container ship, while a second vessel was also attacked.

The incidents come amid uncertainty over US–Iran relations after President Donald Trump said he would extend a ceasefire to allow further diplomatic talks, while maintaining a US blockade of Iranian ports.

The status of negotiations remains unclear, with US Vice-President JD Vance’s expected visit to Pakistan reportedly delayed and no official Iranian response yet to Trump’s statement.

An adviser to Iran’s parliamentary speaker dismissed the ceasefire extension as “meaningless,” describing it as a tactic to “buy time for a surprise strike.”

In Islamabad, preparations for further talks are still in place, but expectations of a meeting this week have weakened, according to reports from correspondents on the ground.