Iran tightens Hormuz control as US pauses attacks

Iran has reinforced its control over the Strait of Hormuz, seizing two vessels after Donald Trump announced an indefinite pause on renewed US attacks, with no clear progress toward restarting peace talks.

The fate of a two-week-old ceasefire remains unclear. Trump said the United States would extend the truce to allow time for discussions on an Iranian proposal, but Iranian officials have not confirmed any agreement and criticized the continued US naval blockade, calling it an act of war. Iran’s parliament speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf said reopening the strait was impossible while the blockade remains in place.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps seized two ships—Epaminondas and MSC Francesca—citing permit violations and navigation interference. A third vessel was fired upon but was not damaged. The US has directed dozens of ships to turn back under its blockade and reportedly intercepted Iranian-linked tankers in Asian waters.

Despite Trump stepping back from threats to strike Iranian infrastructure, the conflict—sparked by US-Israeli attacks on Iran on February 28—remains unresolved. The closure of the strait, which previously carried about a fifth of global oil trade, continues to strain economies worldwide, with oil prices holding above $100 per barrel.

Pakistan’s mediation efforts have yet to yield results, with planned talks in Islamabad failing to materialize. Key sticking points include US demands for Iran to curb its nuclear program and Iran’s insistence on lifting sanctions, receiving reparations, and maintaining control over the strait.