Strongly on the heels of the extension of the ceasefire between America and Iran by President Donald Trump, gunboats of Iran on Wednesday morning attacked two ships at the Strait of Hormuz.
The attacks are the first real signs after the ceasefire extension depicting the resolve of Iran to not only blockade the strait, but also dictate the terms of the new module of administration over the vital choke point it seeks.
One of the ships attacked is said to be carrying the flag of Panama, and Iran said its gunboat attacked it after its crew failed to heed instructions to reverse.
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations , which confirmed the attacks, said this morning that the assaults severely damaged the ships and that the development was worrisome.
Sources said that the ships were attacked 50 nautical miles off the coast.
The Iranian government had warned that it would continue to blockade the strait until America ended its blockade of Iranian ports, a development that Tehran said was a violation of the 10- day ceasefire between the warring states that ended on Tuesday night.
Trump insisted on Monday that the blockade would subsist until Iran returned to negotiations holding in Islamabad, Pakistan.
But Tehran defied Washington, and stayed away from the talks which were to resume today.
In the interim, Pakistan, buoyed on by Gulf countries, is amplifying its diplomatic efforts to kick start the second round of talks between both sides.
Iran had said it would not negotiate while under fire after American naval forces attacked and seized one of its merchant ships earlier this week.
