Strait of Hormuz shipping hit as Iran seizes two ships amid US-Iran standoff

Iran fired on three ships in the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday and seized two vessels. Iranian media said the Revolutionary Guard was escorting the ships to Iran. The White House said the seizures did not breach ceasefire terms. The moves added pressure on a waterway that carries about 20% of traded oil in peacetime.

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The attacks followed a US decision to extend a ceasefire while keeping an American blockade of Iranian ports. The wider US-Iran standoff has reduced most exports through the strait. Fuel costs have climbed well beyond the region. Brent crude rose past $100 a barrel, about 35% above prewar levels, while many stock markets showed limited reaction.

Strait of Hormuz attacks and ship seizures

Iranian media reported the MSC Francesca and the Epaminondas were being taken to Iran. Technomar, which manages the Liberian-registered Epaminondas, said a manned gunboat approached and opened fire off Oman. Technomar said the bridge was damaged. A second cargo ship was fired on later, then stopped, with no damage reported.

No crew injuries were reported on either vessel. The owner of the MSC Francesca could not be reached immediately. Iranian media also said the Guard attacked a third ship, the Euphoria. The report said the vessel was stranded on the Iranian coast. It gave no further details about what happened next.

"Iran taking control of two ships didnt violate truce terms because these were not US or Israeli ships, these were two international vessels,\" White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told Fox News Channel. More than 30 ship attacks have been reported in the region since the war began on Feb. 28. Before that, the strait was open to all traffic.

Strait of Hormuz blockade impact and oil prices

The European Union energy commissioner, Dan J�rgensen, warned the disruption could have lasting effects. Dan J�rgensen compared the moment with major energy shocks from the past 50 years. Dan J�rgensen said Europe is losing about 500 million euros, or $600 million, each day. The higher shipping risk has also lifted costs for food and other goods.

Vortexa, which tracks energy and freight markets, logged tanker activity after the US blockade began on April 13. Vortexa recorded 34 movements of sanctioned and Iranian-linked tankers in one week. The firm counted 19 outbound and 15 inbound trips. Six outbound trips carried Iranian crude, totalling about 10.7 million barrels, Vortexa said.

It was unclear if all those barrels reached overseas buyers. Analysts said Iran’s ability to restrict passage remains a strategic lever. Even after airstrikes stopped, the sea standoff continued. The ceasefire halted American and Israeli strikes in Iran. Tehran’s missiles also stopped targeting Israel and parts of the Middle East.

Strait of Hormuz ceasefire talks and diplomacy

Iranian officials suggested talks may not restart soon. Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf said a full ceasefire was meaningless while the blockade continued. \"Reopening the Strait of Hormuz is impossible with such flagrant breach of the ceasefire,\" Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf wrote on X. Esmail Baghaei said Iran had not decided on new US negotiations.

Esmail Baghaei accused the United States of acting without good faith. Mojtaba Ferdousi Pour told The Associated Press no delegation would go to Pakistan until the blockade ends. Leavitt told reporters Donald Trump had not set a deadline for an Iranian proposal. \"Ultimately, the timeline would be dictated by the commander in chief in the United States,\" Leavitt said.

In Tehran, residents voiced concern about the uncertainty around the truce. \"We should know where we stand. Is it going to be a ceasefire, peace, or the war is going to continue?\" said Mashallah Mohammad Sadegh, 59. \"The way things currently are, one doesnt know what to do.\"

Strait of Hormuz war spillover and Lebanon strikes

In southern Lebanon, three Israeli strikes killed at least six people and wounded others, local authorities said. Israel denied carrying out one strike and did not immediately comment on the others. The incidents came before Israeli and Lebanese ambassadors planned a Washington meeting on Thursday. The talks aimed to extend a fragile ceasefire.

Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency said an Israeli drone hit Jabbour, killing one and wounding two. Israel’s military denied attacking the area. Lebanon’s health ministry said two strikes on al-Tiri killed three, including a journalist, and injured another journalist. Authorities said Amal Khalil’s body was pulled from rubble hours later.

Al-Akhbar said Amal Khalil had covered Israel-Hezbollah hostilities since October 2023. Israel’s military said people in al-Tiri violated the ceasefire and threatened troop safety. Israel denied blocking rescue teams or targeting journalists. Lebanon’s health ministry said another strike on Yohmor killed two and injured two. Hezbollah fired rockets after the war began, prompting retaliation and an Israeli ground invasion.

A 10-day ceasefire that started Friday has faced multiple Israeli strikes, and Hezbollah claimed its first attack Tuesday. Emmanuel Macron said a French peacekeeper wounded in a weekend attack died. Another French peacekeeper was killed in the same Saturday attack by small-arms fire. Macron blamed Hezbollah, which denied involvement.

Authorities reported at least 3,375 deaths in Iran since the war began. More than 2,290 people have been killed in Lebanon. Israel reported 23 deaths, and Gulf Arab states reported more than a dozen. Fifteen Israeli soldiers in Lebanon and 13 US service members have also been killed as the conflict continued.

With inputs from PTI