Iran Seizes Two Ships in Strait of Hormuz Hours After Trump Extends Ceasefire

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) on Wednesday claimed that its naval forces seized two vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, alleging that the vessels violated its territorial waters and tried to exit the strategic waterway without authorisation from Tehran.

This comes just hours after US President Donald Trump announced an indefinite extension of a temporary ceasefire.

In a statement as reported by Iranian state media, Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB), the two ships -- identified as "MSC-FRANCESCA" and "EPAMINODES" -- were allegedly involved in violations while transiting the strategic waterway.

The IRGC, in its statement, stated that the vessels were attempting to exit the strait without authorisation, accusing them of repeated infractions, including tampering with navigational aid systems and endangering maritime security.

"In line with the intelligent control of the Strait of Hormuz, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy this morning identified two violating ships named 'MSC-FRANCESCA', belonging to the Zionist regime and the violating vessel 'EPAMINODES', which were attempting to secretly exit the Strait of Hormuz without authorisation by committing repeated violations and tampering with navigational aid systems and jeopardising maritime security," the statement read as quoted by IRIB.

The statement further claimed that the vessels were intercepted following intelligence monitoring by IRGC forces and subsequently escorted into Iranian territorial waters, and that the vessels have been transferred for inspection of their cargo and documentation.

How Does the IRGC Justify Its ‘Intelligent Control’ Over the Strait of Hormuz?

The IRGC Navy further emphasised that it maintains "intelligent control" over the strait and reiterated that any actions deemed to violate Iran's maritime regulations or disrupt safe passage through the waterway would be closely monitored.

"The IRGC Navy reiterates that any action to disrupt the implementation of the Islamic Republic of Iran's announced rules for traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, as well as any activity contrary to the safe passage of this strategic waterway, will be continuously monitored by the IRGC Navy, and violators will be dealt with decisively and legally," the statement added, as quoted by IRIB.

Meanwhile, one person was killed in a drone strike on eastern Lebanon on Wednesday.

Lebanon's state-run National News Agency said the drone strike on the village of Jabbour also wounded two people.

The Israeli military denied that it had struck in that area. Since a 10-day ceasefire went into effect Friday, there have been several Israeli strikes while Hezbollah claimed its first attack Tuesday.

(With inputs from ANI)