Three container ships were hit by Iranian gunfire in the Strait of Hormuz hours after President Donald Trump announced an extension of his ceasefire agreement between the U.S. and Iran on Tuesday (April 21), the New York Post reports.
Two of the vessels were reportedly seized by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, according to Iranian state TV, and the third was reportedly “stranded” on the Iranian coast, according to semiofficial news agencies. The two captured ships were identified as the Panama-flagged MSC Francesca and the Epaminodes, while the ship reported to be “stranded” was identified as the Euphoria.
Non-Iranian sources hadn’t publicly confirmed that the ships had been seized at the time of publication on Wednesday (April 22). The IRGC claimed that the ships “allegedly operated without authorization, repeatedly violated regulations, manipulated navigational aid systems and sought to covertly exit the Strait of Hormuz, endangering maritime security” in a statement obtained by the New York Post addressing the incidents.
Trump confirmed his decision to extend the ceasefire agreement ahead of its deadline Wednesday in a post shared on his Truth Social account.
“Based on the fact that the Government of Iran is seriously fractured, not unexpectedly so and, upon the request of Field Marshal Asim Munir, and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, of Pakistan, we have been asked to hold our Attack on the Country of Iran until such time as their leaders and representatives can come up with a unified proposal,” Trump said. “I have therefore directed our Military to continue the Blockade and, in all other respects, remain ready and able, and will therefore extend the Ceasefire until such time as their proposal is submitted, and discussions are concluded, one way or the other.”
Trump had previously said he wasn’t interested in extending the agreement if a deal wasn’t met by the deadline and expected expected “to be bombing” while speaking to CNBC‘s Squawk Box hours prior on Tuesday.
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