As it happened: Iran seizes ships in Hormuz as uncertainty shrouds possible US-Iran talks after Trump extends ceasefire

Pakistan, acting as mediator, had cleared out a luxury hotel in the capital for last-ditch peace talks on Tuesday, in the hopes of reaching a deal in the final hours before a two-week-old truce expired.

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Iran seized two ships in the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday (Apr 22), tightening its grip on the strategic waterway after US President Donald Trump called off attacks indefinitely with no sign of peace talks restarting.

Iran's semi-official Tasnim news agency said the Revolutionary Guards had seized two vessels for maritime violations and escorted them to Iranian shores. It was the first time Iran had seized ships since the beginning of the war. Earlier, a British maritime security agency reported three ships had come under fire.

Trump said in a statement late on Tuesday that the US had agreed to a request by Pakistani mediators to extend the ceasefire. But he also said the US Navy would continue its blockade of Iran's trade by sea. 

Iran considers the US blockade an act of war and has said it will not lift its closure of the strait, which has caused a global energy crisis, as long as the blockade continues.

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