Iran latest: Tensions rise after Iran attack on three ships as US blockade continues

With the clock winding down on the two-week ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran, President Donald Trump announced Tuesday that the temporary truce would remain in effect as the two sides discuss a more lasting peace deal. 

Trump explained he agreed to extend the ceasefire while Iran worked to deliver a unified proposal for the ongoing negotiations. In a social media post, he attributed the decision to a fractured Iranian leadership and said it came at the request of Pakistan, which is mediating the peace talks. 

In his post, Trump added that the halt in hostilities will continue "until such time as their proposal is submitted, and discussions are concluded, one way or the other."

Whether those talks will happen or when are yet to be seen. As of Tuesday night, Iran still had not agreed to negotiations and a foreign ministry spokesperson indicated earlier in the day that the country would only participate if it felt the negotiations would yield results. Additionally, Vice President JD Vance, who led the U.S. delegation in the first round of talks, and other U.S. negotiators did not depart for Pakistan on Tuesday, the White House said.

Here’s the latest for Wednesday:

Iran acknowledges ceasefire extension

7:55 a.m. ET: Iran has acknowledged the ceasefire extension, according to Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei. 

"Diplomacy is a tool for securing national interests and security, and whenever we reach the conclusion that the necessary and reasonable conditions exist to use this tool to achieve national interests and to consolidate the achievements of the Iranian nation in thwarting the enemies’ malicious objectives, we will take action," he reportedly on Iranian state television.

Iran has attacked three ships in the strait

6:22 a.m. ET: Iranian forces have attacked three ships that have attempted to traverse through the Strait of Hormuz. 

Two ships were attacked early on Wednesday, Iranian state television reported. Iranian officials say the ships "allegedly operated without authorization, repeatedly violated regulations, manipulated navigational aid systems and sought to covertly exit the Strait of Hormuz, endangering maritime security."

A third ship was attacked by Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, who they say had become "stranded" with no further explanation. 

The Strait of Hormuz is an international waterway that sits in the territorial waters of Iran and Oman.