USS Abraham Lincoln conducts U.S. blockade operations related to the Strait of Hormuz on April 16, 2026.
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Two cargo ships were attacked in the strategic Strait of Hormuz, authorities said Wednesday, as the United States extends a ceasefire and diplomats seek to bring the United States and Iran together for peace talks.
The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) Center announced at 8:38 London time (3:38 a.m. ET) that the ship had been fired upon about eight nautical miles off the coast of Iran, and also warned of “high levels of activity” in the Strait of Hormuz region.
According to UKMTO, the crew are safe and sound, and there was no damage to the ship. It was not immediately clear who shot the ship.
The incident followed earlier reports of an attack that occurred about 24 miles northeast of Oman at 5:47 a.m. London time.
UKMTO announced that the container ship was approached by an Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) gunboat. Revolutionary Guards ships opened fire on the vessel, causing “significant damage” to the bridge, the statement said. All crew members were reported safe.
The attack came shortly after President Donald Trump announced he would extend the ceasefire with Iran to allow Iranian leaders to submit a “unified offer” to end the war.
This came after reports that Vice President Vance’s visit to Pakistan for a second round of peace talks with Iranian officials had been postponed, and after Iran’s state news agency Tasnim reported that Tehran’s negotiators would not attend further talks.
The Strait of Hormuz is an important maritime corridor connecting the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman. Typically, about 20% of the world’s oil and gas passes through it.
Attacks on commercial ships in the Gulf in recent weeks have heightened fears of a prolonged economic shock.
—CNBC’s Dan Mangan and Kevin Breuninger contributed to this report.
