The confrontation marked the latest escalation in a 10-week war that began with joint U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran and has since destabilized shipping lanes, disrupted oil exports and widened hostilities across the Middle East.U.S. Central Command said an F/A-18 Super Hornet used precision-guided munitions against the two vessels to prevent them from continuing toward Iranian waters through the Gulf of Oman, a strategic maritime corridor connected to the Strait of Hormuz.

Iranian officials condemned the attack as a breach of the ceasefire and accused Washington of undermining ongoing diplomatic efforts.An Iranian military official told local media that naval forces had “responded to the violation of the ceasefire and to American terrorism with strikes,” adding that the clashes had subsequently ended.

The incident followed renewed tensions overnight in the Strait of Hormuz, a vital energy transit chokepoint through which a significant share of global oil shipments passes. An adviser to Iran’s supreme leader compared strategic control of the strait to possessing “an atomic bomb.”U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in Rome that Washington expected Tehran’s response later Friday to a new American proposal aimed at extending the truce to facilitate broader negotiations.

“It is unacceptable” for Iran to control the strategic waterway, Rubio told reporters, expressing hope Tehran would present “a serious offer.”At the White House, U.S. President Donald Trump said his administration anticipated receiving a formal Iranian response by nightfall.“I’m getting a letter supposedly tonight, so we’ll see how that goes,” Trump said.

According to regional officials, Washington delivered the latest ceasefire proposal through Pakistani mediators, seeking an extension of the Gulf truce to create space for negotiations over a permanent settlement.Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said the proposal remained “under review,” according to the ISNA news agency.

Iran’s ambassador to the United Nations, Amir Saeed Irvani, submitted a letter to the U.N. Security Council accusing the United States of violating the ceasefire through the tanker strikes.In Washington, Qatar’s Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani met U.S. Vice President JD Vance to discuss Pakistani-led mediation efforts aimed at securing a lasting peace arrangement.

Satellite imagery released Friday indicated an expanding oil slick off Iran’s Kharg Island, the country’s principal oil export terminal. Monitoring firm Orbital EOS estimated the spill covered more than 20 square miles off the island’s western coastline, though the cause was not immediately determined.

Kharg Island remains central to Iran’s oil export infrastructure and sits north of the Strait of Hormuz, where commercial shipping disruptions since February have contributed to heightened volatility in global energy markets.Iran largely closed the strait following the outbreak of war on Feb. 28, prompting sharp increases in oil prices and renewed security deployments by Western naval forces.

The United States later imposed a maritime blockade targeting Iranian ports.Trump earlier this week announced a naval initiative aimed at reopening the strait to commercial traffic before reversing course in favor of renewed diplomacy.On a parallel front in Lebanon, the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah said it launched missiles toward an Israeli military base near Nahariya in response to Israeli strikes on Beirut’s southern suburbs and southern Lebanon.

Hours later, Hezbollah announced a separate drone attack targeting another Israeli base in the north.Israel has continued operations against Hezbollah despite an existing ceasefire agreement. On Wednesday, Israeli forces carried out their first strike in a month on Beirut’s southern suburbs, saying a senior Hezbollah commander had been killed.

Lebanon’s health ministry said Israeli strikes in the south killed 10 people on Friday, including women and children, while Lebanon’s civil defense agency said one of its personnel was also killed.The escalation comes ahead of planned direct negotiations between Israel and Lebanon in Washington next week, talks Hezbollah has publicly opposed.

Pakistan’s foreign office spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said the crew members, who had been aboard the MV Touska, were flown into Pakistan overnight and would be handed over to Iranian authorities later in the day.

The vessel was seized by U.S. forces in the Gulf of Oman after it refused orders to alter its course during heightened maritime tensions linked to the standoff in the Strait of Hormuz.

Washington has imposed a naval blockade on Iranian ports since last month, part of broader measures amid escalating conflict with Tehran.A spokesperson for the United States Central Command said earlier that the crew had been repatriated to Pakistan, while Iranian media reported that six crew members had already been released and returned to Iran last week.

Andrabi said the vessel would also be moved to Pakistani territorial waters for repairs before being returned, with coordination involving both U.S. and Iranian authorities. He added that Islamabad welcomed the step and would continue efforts to facilitate dialogue.

The transfer comes as Pakistan positions itself as a mediator between Washington and Tehran. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar held talks with Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi on Sunday to discuss regional developments and diplomatic efforts.

Pakistan has hosted discussions between the two sides since February, though recent attempts at negotiations have not yielded a breakthrough. Tensions have remained high, particularly over control of the Strait of Hormuz, where the U.S. has announced plans to escort commercial vessels in an operation it describes as humanitarian.

Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya central military command said the vessel was en route from China when it came under attack, warning that Iranian forces would respond. A spokesperson described the incident as “armed piracy” and said retaliation would follow.U.S. President Donald Trump said earlier that a U.S.

Navy destroyer intercepted the ship, identified as the MV Touska, after it failed to comply with repeated warnings while attempting to breach a U.S.-imposed maritime blockade on Iranian ports.Trump said the vessel was disabled after the USS Spruance fired on its engine room and that U.S. Marines had taken control of the ship.

He added that the Touska was subject to U.S. Treasury sanctions due to a history of alleged illegal activity.The U.S. Central Command said the destroyer issued warnings over a six-hour period before using force to stop the vessel, marking the first such interception since the blockade began last week.

It added that U.S. forces have turned back at least 25 commercial vessels attempting to navigate the restricted waters.The confrontation comes amid heightened instability in the Strait of Hormuz, a critical route for global oil and gas shipments, which has remained largely closed since the outbreak of the U.S.-Israel conflict with Iran seven weeks ago.

Iran briefly reopened the strait on Friday following a ceasefire in Lebanon but shut it again within 24 hours, citing continued U.S. naval restrictions. The uncertainty has disrupted maritime traffic, with vessel tracking data showing tankers reversing course in recent days.Energy analysts warned that the renewed tensions could drive volatility in oil markets after a brief easing late last week.

Amrita Sen, founder of Energy Aspects, said developments over the weekend underscored the fragility of the situation and the risk of further escalation.

The incident adds pressure on diplomatic efforts to stabilize the region, with markets and governments closely monitoring the standoff for signs of either de-escalation or further conflict.

Donald Trump said on Sunday that U.S. forces would start blockading maritime traffic to Iranian ports, escalating tensions after negotiations failed to produce an agreement to end the conflict, putting a fragile two-week ceasefire at risk.

US Central Command said the blockade would take effect at 10 a.m. ET (1400 GMT) and would apply to all vessels entering or leaving Iranian ports across the Arabian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman. It added that freedom of navigation through Hormuz to non-Iranian destinations would not be impeded.

Shipping data showed several vessels adjusting routes in response. The Malta-flagged very large crude carrier Agios Fanourios I reversed course after attempting to enter the Gulf and is now anchored near the Gulf of Oman.

Other tankers, including the Pakistan-flagged Shalamar and Khairpur, continued operations, heading toward the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait respectively to load cargo.

The Liberia-flagged VLCC Mombasa B also transited the strait earlier on Sunday and is currently ballasting in the Gulf, according to vessel tracking data.Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps warned that any military vessels approaching the strait would be considered a violation of the ceasefire and would face a “decisive” response.

Despite rising tensions, shipping data showed that three fully laden supertankers passed through the strait on Saturday, appearing to be among the first vessels to exit the Gulf since the ceasefire agreement was reached last week.

The vessel, Pine Gas, carrying 45,000 metric tons of LPG, took nearly three weeks to leave the Gulf after loading at Ruwais on February 27, a day before hostilities escalated following U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran.

Chief Officer Sohan Lal said the crew of 27 Indian nationals witnessed daily missile and drone activity while awaiting clearance. The ship was eventually instructed by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps to transit through a narrow channel north of Larak Island, instead of standard shipping lanes.

The alternative route was advised due to concerns that the main Hormuz passage had been mined, Lal said. Clearance to proceed was granted only after all crew members consented to the voyage.

Indian authorities coordinated closely with the vessel’s owner, Seven Islands Shipping, before approving the transit. The Indian Navy guided the tanker through the strait and deployed four warships to escort it for nearly 20 hours from the Gulf of Oman into the Arabian Sea.

Officials said no transit fees were paid and Iranian forces did not board the vessel during its passage.Supply concerns and reroutingIndia, heavily reliant on imported LPG for household consumption, has been monitoring shipping risks closely.

The cargo, initially destined for Mangalore, was redirected to ports on the east coast, including Visakhapatnam and Haldia, to manage supply distribution.

New Delhi said six Indian vessels have successfully transited the strait, while 18 ships with about 485 Indian crew remain in the Persian Gulf.

Iran has stated it is permitting passage for vessels from “friendly nations,” including India, as maritime traffic through Hormuz remains restricted.