Iran Fires Warning Shots at Hormuz Vessels Amid Ceasefire Talks

Iranian armed forces fired warning shots at four vessels attempting to transit the Strait of Hormuz without prior coordination Thursday evening, Iran’s state-run Mehr news agency reported, a fresh reminder that Tehran retains operational control of the chokepoint even as diplomats in Oman work toward a ceasefire extension.

The vessels, which Mehr did not identify by flag or cargo, were turned back after the warning shots. The episode was the latest in a series of Iranian interdictions at the strait since the conflict began. The incident occurred while US and Iranian officials were reported to be finalizing a tentative 60-day extension to the existing ceasefire, according to US officials cited by the BBC and Foreign Policy, though Tehran had not publicly confirmed the deal as of Thursday night.

Warning shots as leverage

The incident underscores a pattern that has defined the Hormuz standoff: Iran using its maritime presence to signal leverage even during pauses in direct hostilities. US Central Command said Thursday it has now redirected 111 commercial vessels as part of its blockade coordination efforts since the conflict began, including 17 in the past week.

Senior Iranian officials have repeatedly framed control of the strait as a core negotiating card. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Thursday that Iran is not seeking nuclear weapons, but warned in remarks reported by ISNA: “We do not engage in diplomacy with humiliation.” Pezeshkian also accused Israel of fueling regional instability, though Tehran’s negotiating position with Washington has remained focused on sanctions relief and the Hormuz transit regime.

Talks close but unsigned

US and Iranian officials have been meeting in Oman in an effort to extend the 60-day ceasefire, the terms of which have not been made fully public. Foreign Policy reported Thursday that a tentative deal has been reached but awaits Trump’s approval. Tehran has not publicly signed off.

The ceasefire extension negotiation runs parallel to, and in tension with, the harder conditions Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent outlined earlier in the day. Bessent said Washington will not consider lifting sanctions until the Strait of Hormuz is reopened and Iran agrees to hand over its stockpile of highly enriched uranium. “Nothing is going to be on the table until we see the Strait of Hormuz open, and the Iranians agree they have to turn over the highly enriched uranium,” Bessent told reporters.

Bessent separately said he believes oil prices could fall rapidly once a Hormuz transit agreement is finalized, noting that vessels are queued to exit the Gulf once clearance is given. “I think the oil market is going to be very well supplied on the other side,” he said.

That optimism is not shared by energy executives. Senior figures from major US oil companies warned Thursday that global reserves — both government strategic reserves and private inventories — have been drawn down during the Hormuz disruption to a point where Brent crude could reach $150 per barrel within weeks if no transit deal materializes.

European posture

European officials are coordinating a parallel response to the Hormuz situation. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said Thursday, after a meeting of EU foreign ministers, that securing freedom of navigation through the strait will require additional naval assets beyond those currently deployed. Kallas indicated Brussels is considering expanding the Aspides naval mission, which is currently active in the Red Sea under a separate mandate.

Qatar has been playing a quiet facilitation role. Qatari Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani spoke by phone with Trump on Thursday to discuss regional developments, with the emir’s office saying Sheikh Tamim stressed “the importance of prioritising diplomacy and dialogue among all parties.” The statement said Trump expressed appreciation for Qatar’s support of Pakistani mediation between Washington and Tehran.

Background

The Strait of Hormuz carries roughly 20 percent of global oil supply. Since the Iran conflict began, Iran has imposed a coordination requirement on vessels transiting the strait, directing commercial shipping to notify Iranian maritime authorities before passing. The US has disputed the legality of the requirement under international law and has been escorting some vessels through the strait under naval protection.

For context on the sanctions architecture, see the OFAC Persian Gulf Strait Authority designation published Thursday. Bessent’s dual-track conditions — Hormuz transit and uranium surrender — are detailed in the full sanctions-conditions report. The unsigned ceasefire extension MOU is covered in the White House confirmation.

What to watch

• Whether Trump approves or rejects the tentative 60-day extension MOU. No public timeline has been set.
• Iranian leadership’s public response to Bessent’s uranium-surrender condition, which Tehran has previously described as a red line.
• Vessel traffic through Hormuz and whether Thursday’s warning shots prompt a broader incident or remain isolated.