The U.S. intercepted and redirected three Iranian-flagged oil tankers in waters near India, Sri Lanka and Malaysia, Reuters reported citing shipping sources—potentially heating up the conflict after Iran reportedly seized two ships in the Strait of Hormuz earlier on Wednesday despite an extended ceasefire.
In this handout photo provided by U.S. Central Command, U.S. forces patrol the Arabian Sea near M/V Touska on April 20, 2026, after firing upon the Iranian-flagged vessel that the U.S. accused of attempting to violate the U.S. naval blockade of Iranian ports near the Strait of Hormuz. (Handout Photo by the U.S. Navy via Getty Images)
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The U.S. military has not commented on the reported interceptions, but U.S. Central Command claimed earlier in the day its forces had turned around 29 ships as part of the ongoing blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.
Earlier Wednesday, Iran fired on three ships in the Strait of Hormuz and seized two of them, multiple outlets reported.
Iranian leaders later said they would only agree to a lasting ceasefire and reopening the Strait of Hormuz if the U.S. lifts its naval blockade, and if Israel also commits to a ceasefire.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Wednesday Iran “has welcomed dialogue and agreement and continues to do so,” but the U.S. naval blockade, “breach of commitments” and “threats are main obstacles to genuine negotiations,” he wrote on X.
Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, who has led negotiations, also said in a post on X that a ceasefire could only happen if the U.S. ended the blockade and that Israel cease from “Zionist warmongering” (according to an X translation).
In the midst of the ongoing blockade, the Pentagon announced a major personnel shakeup—Navy Secretary John C. Phelan would be leaving the Trump administration “effective immediately.” Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell made the announcement in a brief post on X, wishing the former official well but not giving any further reason for the firing. Phelan was a Trump loyalist and major donor during his 2024 presidential campaign, but clashed frequently with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Deputy Defense Secretary Stephen Feinberg, both the Wall Street Journal and the New York Times reported.
The Pentagon estimates that clearing Iranian mines from the Strait of Hormuz could take six months and prolong the economic consequences of its closure, The Washington Post reported Wednesday, citing three unnamed officials. The Defense Department reportedly informed Congress of the scenario on Tuesday.
The U.S. implemented a naval blockade on April 13 on ships coming to and from Iran. As of Tuesday, the U.S. Navy had turned back 28 vessels attempting to enter or exit Iranian ports since the blockade began, U.S. Central Command said. It has seized at least one, the Iranian-flagged Touska, in the Arabian Sea. The Touska—which was sanctioned by the Treasury Department in 2020 and was headed to Iran from China—was likely carrying military supplies, Reuters reported, citing unnamed sources.
It’s unclear when peace talks between the U.S. and Iran will resume as the two sides appear to be at a stalemate over control of the Strait of Hormuz. Vice President JD Vance cancelled a trip to Pakistan for peace talks on Tuesday after Iran said it would not attend. President Donald Trump extended the two-week ceasefire between the U.S. and Israel and Iran on Tuesday, ahead of its Wednesday end-date, despite expressing hesitation earlier in the day and promising strikes would resume without a deal in place.
Trump Says Iran Ceasefire Extended Despite Calling Off Negotiations (Forbes)
Iran Seizes 2 Ships In Strait Of Hormuz—Third Ship Attacked, State Media Claims (Forbes)
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