TEHRAN, Iran — Iranian officials said Wednesday that Iran will not reopen the Strait of Hormuz while a United States naval blockade remains in place, and announced the seizure of two vessels in the area despite an extended ceasefire.
Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said the waterway would remain closed under current conditions, arguing that a ceasefire cannot stand while the blockade continues. He made the remarks as diplomatic efforts led by Pakistan sought to revive talks between Iran and the United States.
US President Donald Trump announced Tuesday that the United States would extend the ceasefire to allow more time for negotiations, although Iran has not confirmed participation in a new round of talks. Vice President JD Vance postponed a planned visit to Islamabad.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said its naval forces intercepted and seized two vessels in the strait, identifying them as the Panama-flagged MSC Francesca and the Liberia-flagged Epaminondas. Panama’s foreign ministry confirmed the seizure of one ship and described the action as a threat to maritime security.
Maritime monitors reported additional incidents involving commercial vessels in the area, including one ship that reported being fired upon by Iranian forces near Oman, sustaining damage but no casualties.
The United States has deployed naval forces to block ships traveling to and from Iranian ports as part of efforts to pressure Iran economically. The United States Department of Defense said Tuesday that US forces boarded a vessel suspected of links to sanctioned Iranian activity.
Tensions persisted despite the ceasefire, with both sides accusing each other of violations. Iran previously said it would allow passage through the strait during the truce but reversed its position after the US announced the blockade.
Separately, violence continued in Lebanon, where clashes between Israeli forces and the Iran-backed group Hezbollah resumed despite a truce. Lebanese media reported that Israeli strikes killed five people on Wednesday, including a journalist.
Officials from Israel and Lebanon are scheduled to hold a second round of talks in Washington on Thursday to address the conflict and seek an extension of the ceasefire.
