Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) on Wednesday attacked a container ship near the Strait of Hormuz. A container ship was attacked by an Iranian gunship early Wednesday, according to the UK Maritime Traffic Organisation (UKMTO). The ship was approached by an Iranian gunboat that gave no radio warning before it “fired upon the vessel,” and causd “heavy damage to the bridge,” the maritime authority said, citing the master of the container ship. The crew were reported safe.
United States President Donald Trump extended the ceasefire indefinitely, without a deadline. The US and Israel began the war on February 28 with aerial bombardments of Iran. The conflict quickly spread to Gulf states that host US military bases and to Lebanon once the Iran-allied militant group Hezbollah joined the fighting. The hostilities ceased following the two sides agreed for a two-week truce, which was set to expire on Wednesday. Both countries had said they were prepared to resume fighting if no deal is reached.
Trump said that he extended the ceasefire with Iran at Pakistan’s request while awaiting a "unified proposal" from Tehran. Trump said that the US military will continue its blockade of Iranian ports.
"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," Trump posted on Truth Social.
There was no response early on Wednesday to Trump's announcement from senior Iranian officials, although some initial reactions from Tehran suggested Trump's comments were being treated skeptically.
Tasnim News Agency, affiliated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, said Iran had not asked for a ceasefire extension and repeated threats to break the U.S. blockade by force. An adviser to Iran's lead negotiator, the speaker of parliament Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, said Trump's announcement carried little weight and may be a ploy.
Apoorva Shukla is a journalist at Times Now, where she thrives on dissecting political developments both at home and abroad. A graduate of Delhi Univ...View More
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