Iran Takes Ships Hostage in Strait of Hormuz

President Donald Trump extended the ceasefire with Iran – and Iran’s Revolutionary Guard promptly seized two ships in the Strait of Hormuz. 

As reported:

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said Wednesday their naval forces had seized two container ships trying to cross the Strait of Hormuz, despite US President Donald Trump announcing he was extending a ceasefire to allow more time for talks.

Despite the latest series of attacks on maritime traffic in the Gulf, a second round of US-Iran talks could take place within the next three days, the New York Post reported, citing Trump and unnamed Pakistani sources.

“It’s possible!” Trump reportedly wrote to the Post in a text message when asked about the sources in Pakistan, who had told the newspaper that a second round could happen within two to three days.

UK-based maritime security monitors confirmed that three commercial vessels had reported incidents involving gunboats in the crucial strait, the international gateway for the Gulf oil and gas industry which US and Iranian forces are battling to control.

“The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps naval force this morning identified and stopped in the Strait of Hormuz two violating ships,” the Guards said in a statement.

“The two offending ships... were seized by the IRGC’s naval forces and directed to the Iranian coast.”

Last night, the White House announced that the ceasefire with Iran would be extended indefinitely while negotiations continue. The stated goal is to allow the Iranian leadership more time to produce “a unified proposal.”

Meanwhile, it appears Iran had their fingers crossed behind its back because it fired on three commercial vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz anyway. Two of those ships – both cargo vessels, including one owned by a Greek company and another linked to Geneva – were seized and escorted into Iranian waters. A third ship was targeted and “disabled off Iran’s coast.”

President Donald Trump took to social media to give the latest update on the ceasefire, stating:

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. 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.

The President also confirmed that while offensive operations are paused, the U.S. military has been directed to continue its blockade of Iranian shipping and remain fully prepared for further action if needed.

That blockade targeting Iranian cargo leaving its ports has been in place since negotiations in Pakistan broke down. It is designed to apply economic pressure on the regime while avoiding a broader escalation.

Still, the mixed message is hard to ignore: a ceasefire on paper, while active hostilities continue in one of the world’s most critical shipping lanes.

The Strait of Hormuz carries roughly 20% of the global oil supply, making any disruption there immediately significant. The seizure of multiple vessels not only impacts the companies involved but also raises broader concerns about market stability and global energy prices.

At the core of the Administration’s strategy is a clear objective: preventing Iran from maintaining or developing nuclear weapons capability. Previous negotiations hinted at potential progress, particularly around sanctions relief in exchange for dismantling nuclear programs and its terror proxies, but no agreement has been finalized.

For now, the United States’ approach appears to be a combination of continued economic pressure through the blockade and a temporary pause in direct military engagement. But I have to wonder how long a ceasefire and continued confrontation can coexist. It seems contradictory, and I think that’s the cause of a lot of confusion and frustration here at home.

The White House has since clarified that the ceasefire extension may last approximately three to five days, though the original language suggested a more open-ended timeline tied to Iran’s response.

Meanwhile, internal divisions within Iran continue to complicate the situation. With multiple factions vying for power, it remains unclear whether any single negotiating position can hold long enough to produce a lasting agreement.

Now roughly eight weeks into the conflict, the situation remains fluid. While the blockade has placed measurable pressure on Iran’s economy, incidents like the seizure of commercial vessels underscore the risks of prolonged instability.

The ideal solution here is a peaceful resolution that leads to a free Iran. But the current regime has proven time and time again that they’re not the “peace and freedom” type of guys. It makes me wonder how long this arrangement can last, and at what point we stop giving Iran opportunities to fool us again. 

Today’s Sekulow broadcast included more discussion of President Trump’s extended ceasefire and the status of the two ships in Iranian custody, as well as the fate of the third vessel.

Watch the full broadcast below: