Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has seized two foreign commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, just hours after US President Donald Trump extended a ceasefire, reports Al Jazeera.

According to Iranian state media, the ships violated maritime regulations by entering the waterway without proper coordination. This action followed an incident in which an IRGC gunboat fired on a Liberian-flagged container vessel near Oman, causing significant damage to its bridge but fortunately resulting in no casualties.

The IRGC stated that the seizures were a response to the US capture of an Iranian commercial ship in the Sea of Oman, accusing Washington of 'armed piracy' after allegedly disabling its navigation systems. Iranian officials have also discussed the possibility of imposing charges and transit fees for vessels using the Strait of Hormuz.

The Strait of Hormuz is a critical chokepoint that handles about one-fifth of the global oil supply. Analysts suggest that Tehran is attempting to assert authority over maritime traffic as leverage in negotiations, while simultaneously sending mixed signals regarding the ceasefire.

US President Donald Trump announced that he would delay a planned military strike on Iran following requests from Pakistan's leadership, but confirmed that the US naval blockade of Iranian ports would remain in effect. He stated that American forces were ordered to stay 'ready and able.'

Observers have noted a significant level of mistrust between Tehran and Washington, with Iranian officials rejecting imposed terms and warning of potential further confrontations. Analysts indicate that Iran views control of the Strait of Hormuz as central to its regional strategy, framing its position around the concept of 'security for all versus security for none.'