The authority stated in a statement published on its account on the ‘X’ platform: ‘The British Maritime Operations Authority received a report of an incident 8 nautical miles west of Iran, and the captain of the cargo ship confirmed that the ship had been fired upon and is now stationary in international waters.’
In a related context, US President Donald Trump announced on Tuesday evening that discussions are ongoing until Iran presents its proposal and the discussions conclude in one way or another. The US President also announced the continuation of the naval blockade of Iranian ports, despite Washington’s agreement to postpone strikes on Iran. Trump wrote on the social media platform ‘Truth Social’: ‘I have issued directives to our armed forces.’
On April 8, Iran and the United States reached an agreement to ceasefire for two weeks following a military escalation that lasted about 40 days, which included extensive attacks launched inside Iran that resulted in the death of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and several senior officials and about 3,500 people. Tehran responded with missile and drone strikes targeting Israel and US military installations in the Middle East.
On April 11, a round of negotiations was held in Islamabad aimed at reaching a permanent ceasefire and settling the conflict, but it ended without significant results due to disagreements over Tehran’s desire to control the Strait of Hormuz and its refusal to give up its stockpile of enriched uranium. Subsequently, on April 13, Washington announced the imposition of a naval blockade on Iranian ports on both sides of the Strait of Hormuz, through which about 20 percent of global shipments of oil, its derivatives, and liquefied natural gas pass.
