Fragile ceasefire with Iran being tested

By Sarah Roderick-Fitch
The Center Square

After extending the ceasefire with Iran, President Donald Trump is reportedly giving the Islamic Republic a shorter deadline to present a unified proposal for a peace deal.

Iranians have already tested the fragile ceasefire Wednesday when the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps reportedly seized two cargo ships in the Strait of Hormuz, the MSC Francesca and the MAC Epaminondas, accusing the Francesca of being “linked to Israel.”

Iran says the ships “operated without required authorization,” adding that the ships were “endangering maritime safety.” In addition to the two ships seized, Iran have been accused of firing on a third ship in the strait.

The Iranians haven’t indicated if the seizure of the two ships was in retaliation for the naval blockade Trump imposed on the Islamic Republic over a week ago, resulting in the seizure of one ship named the Touska and the boarding of another.

The Touska was intercepted Sunday in the Gulf of Oman after the U.S. Navy “gave them fair warning to stop,” according to the president. Trump says the “nearly 900 feet long” ship attempted to get through the naval blockade.

A U.S. Navy destroyer intercepted and seized the Iranian-flagged cargo ship en route to an Iranian port originating from China, raising concerns that China could be resupplying the Islamic Republic with weapons.

On Tuesday, the U.S. Navy intercepted and boarded a “stateless” sanctioned boat in the Indo-Pacific region, according to the Department of War.

“As we have made clear, we will pursue global maritime enforcement efforts to disrupt illicit networks and interdict sanctioned vessels providing material support to Iran,” the DOW wrote in a social media post.

U.S. Central Command has said since the start of the Naval blockade on Iranian ports, the U.S. has intercepted 28 vessels to “turn around or return to port.”

Trump and his administration believe the blockade is putting economic pressure on Iran, with the president claiming the Islamic Republic is losing $500 million a day with the Strait of Hormuz remaining closed. Trump added that the cash-strapped nation will be unable to pay its military and police.

Despite the failed talks with Iran over the last couple of weeks, the president told reporters he believes talks could resume as soon as this weekend.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters Wednesday that the president “has not set a firm deadline to receive an Iranian proposal.”