“Iran” seizes 2 vessels in Strait of Hormuz, Cites rule regulations

Today (April 23, 2026) Tasnim news agency and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) showed Iranian soldiers boarding two cargo ships in the Strait of Hormuz during an operation. The confiscated vessels are the Panama-flagged MSC Francesca and the Liberia-flagged Epaminondas. Iran claims the two ships violated regulations and manipulated navigation systems in their effort to leave the Strait of Hormuz.

Meanwhile, White House spokeswoman Caroline Leavitt indicated that the US has yet to establish a timeframe for prolonging the temporary truce, and that the ships struck by Iran did not breach the ceasefire because they were not US ships. Even with Pakistan serving as a mediator, US President Donald Trump will ultimately decide when the Iranian crisis will be resolved.

Mohammad Baker Galibaf, Iran's parliament speaker and lead negotiator, responds on social media to Trump's announcement of an extension of the cease-fire. It is impossible to reopen the Strait of Hormuz since the US and Israel have already breached the ceasefire deal by blocking Iranian ports.

Despite the fact that the ceasefire deal has been announced for more than two weeks and is set to expire this week, there is still a lack of clarity between the US-Iran. Trump has declared an extension of the ceasefire until Iran's offers for peace talks to end the two month long war are addressed.

SOURCE: REUTERS