IRAN fired on three ships in the Strait of Hormuz and seized two of them\u00a0today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This came a day after United States President Donald Trump extended a ceasefire while maintaining the US blockade of Iranian ports.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Iranian media said that the paramilitary Revolutionary Guard was bringing the two ships to Iran after seizing them in the strategically and economically important strait.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The duelling blockades of the strait have continued the doubts about when or if talks would resume to end the crisis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Iranian media said the that MSC Francesca and the Epaminodes were being escorted to Iran. The ships\u2019 owners could not be immediately reached for comment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The US had earlier seized two Iranian vessels as the ceasefire talks were due to take place in Pakistan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Iranians attacked a third ship, identified as the Euphoria, which had become \u201cstranded\u201d on the Iranian coast, Iranian media reported, without elaborating.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The British military\u2019s United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations Centre also reported the attacks, saying a Revolutionary Guard gunboat opened fire on a container ship and \u201ccaused heavy damage to the bridge.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A second cargo ship came under fire hours later, with no report of damage, though the vessel was then stopped in the water. No injuries to the crew of either vessel were reported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There have been more than 30 attacks on ships in the Middle East since the US and Israel launched their illegal and unprovoked attack on Iran on February 28. Before then, the strait was open for all traffic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On Tuesday, Mr Trump said that he was unilaterally extending the ceasefire with Iran at mediator Pakistan\u2019s request while awaiting a \u201cunified proposal\u201d from Tehran, even as the US blockade of Iranian ports remains in place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mr Trump said that the ceasefire would be extended \u201cuntil such time as their proposal is submitted, and discussions are concluded, one way or the other.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The White House put on hold Vice-President JD Vance\u2019s planned trip to Pakistan for a second round of truce talks with Iran.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Iran has yet to decide whether to join the negotiations in Pakistan, a Foreign Ministry spokesperson said earlier on Tuesday and will only take part if Tehran believes the discussions would yield results.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since the war started, fighting has killed at least 3,375 people in Iran. Additionally, 23 people have died in Israel and more than a dozen in Gulf Arab states and 13 US service members have been killed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n