WASHINGTON — U.S. President Donald Trump extended the ceasefire with Iran on Wednesday, saying new talks could begin as early as Friday, even as Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps seized two container ships operated by MSC in the Strait of Hormuz.
The seizures occurred shortly after Trump announced the prolongation of the truce and reiterated the U.S. Blockade on Iranian ports, according to Iranian state media and maritime tracking reports. A third vessel was also targeted and disabled off Iran’s coast, Iranian officials said.
Tehran claimed the ships were taken into Iranian waters following gunfire in the strategic waterway, a move it framed as a response to ongoing U.S. Pressure. The incidents heightened tensions in the Gulf, where commercial shipping has faced increasing risks amid stalled diplomatic efforts.
In Washington, Trump said he would give Iran a limited window to present a unified proposal to revive peace negotiations, which have repeatedly faltered despite intermittent backchannel contacts. He emphasized that the blockade would remain in place until Tehran engages constructively.
Meanwhile, Lebanese officials confirmed they would seek to extend the ceasefire with Israel by at least one month during upcoming talks in Washington. Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said negotiations were underway to prolong the truce, currently set to expire Sunday, by ten days, while Beirut’s foreign ministry pushed for a full month.
The developments underscore the fragility of regional de-escalation efforts, with flashpoints emerging simultaneously along Israel’s northern border and in one of the world’s most critical oil transit chokepoints.
