Iran Seizes Ships in Strait of Hormuz After US Extends Ceasefire
Updated
Updated · CNN · Apr 22
Iran Seizes Ships in Strait of Hormuz After US Extends Ceasefire
58 articles · Updated · CNN · Apr 22
Iran’s Revolutionary Guard attacked and seized multiple commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday, firing on at least three ships.
These incidents occurred shortly after US President Trump extended a fragile ceasefire but maintained a blockade on Iranian ports, complicating ongoing peace efforts.
The closure of the vital waterway has stranded hundreds of ships, sent oil prices higher, and raised concerns about global energy and supply chain disruptions.
How close are the US and Iran to all-out war in the Strait of Hormuz?
Can Pakistani mediators stop the US-Iran standoff from sparking a global conflict?
Can Iran turn the world's most vital oil chokepoint into its own private toll road?
Are Russia and China using the Hormuz crisis to challenge America's global power?
Is the world prepared for an oil supply shock that now dwarfs the 1973 crisis?
How has Iran's new Supreme Leader changed the rules of this dangerous conflict?
Iran’s Seizure of Two Ships Escalates Strait of Hormuz Crisis, Threatening 20% of Global Oil Supply
Overview
In April 2026, the U.S. imposed a naval blockade on the Strait of Hormuz to cripple Iran's oil exports, which Iran viewed as an act of war and responded by vowing to close the strait and using asymmetric tactics, including seizing two container ships. This led to a near-total closure of the strait for seven weeks, disrupting 20% of global oil transit and causing a surge in energy prices, inflation, and severe economic hardship, especially in Asia and developing countries. The crisis deepened diplomatic deadlock, canceled peace talks, and damaged trust among Gulf allies, prompting Gulf states to accelerate pipeline projects to bypass the strait and reduce their vulnerability.