The Iranian regime maintains pressure in the Strait of Hormuz despite the extension of the announced ceasefire

Published on 22/04/2026 at 15:25 Updated on 22/04/2026 at 17:48

President Donald Trump of the United States finally extends the ceasefire. The blockade of ports is still in place and tensions are not easing. The Revolutionary Guards say they seized two ships that were attempting to pass through the Strait of Hormuz on the morning of Wednesday, April 22. Two other boats were targeted by Iranian fire.

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A show of force took place on the evening of Tuesday, April 21. As the ceasefire expiration approached, the Iranian regime displayed a medium-range ballistic missile at Revolution Square, accompanied by a dense crowd chanting anti-American and anti-Israeli slogans. Similar scenes were witnessed in several cities across the country, like in Arak, further south of the capital. In the evening, at the request of Pakistani negotiators, Donald Trump announced the extension of the ceasefire until Iran presents a proposal and discussions are concluded.

However, this morning, tensions remain high and the standoff continues in the Strait of Hormuz. Two container ships were targeted by Iranian fire off the coast of Oman, attacked by the mosquito fleet, the fast patrol boats of the Revolutionary Guards patrolling the strait.

On the other hand, the United States maintains their blockade in the area to prevent tankers from leaving and to dry up Iran’s finances. “They also want to buy time because they know that a resumption of hostilities may not necessarily produce more results than what has been achieved since February 28. So Donald Trump is biding his time, trying to play the economic pressure on the Iranians,” analyzes Benoist Bihan, military historian and specialist in strategic issues.

With the supposed negotiations in Pakistan still pending, authorities have reopened the streets of the capital, Islamabad, on the morning of Wednesday, April 22.