Asian stock markets mostly declined amid recent developments in the Iran conflict. Indices in Tokyo, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Sydney, Singapore, and Wellington dropped, while Seoul advanced over 1% to a new high, driven by gains in technology stocks that have fueled the Kospi’s rise this year. Markets in Taipei, Manila, and Jakarta also increased. Oil prices stayed high, with Brent crude remaining above $100 following a surge on Wednesday, though it trimmed early gains on Thursday. The benchmark briefly exceeded $105 before settling around $103.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards released footage claiming to show the seizure of two ships in the Strait of Hormuz. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps stated the vessels were detained for alleged maritime infractions and taken to Iranian territory, according to shipping firms and Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency. This marks the first such incident since the conflict started in late February. Tasnim reported that the IRGC accused the Panama-flagged MSC Francesca and the Liberia-flagged Epaminondas of trying to leave the strait secretly.
At the White House, spokesperson Karoline Leavitt indicated that President Donald Trump does not view the ship seizures as a breach of the US-Iran ceasefire, noting the vessels were neither American nor Israeli. She stated: ‘No, because these were not US ships, these were not Israeli ships. These were two international vessels.’
This live update covers unfolding events in the Middle East. Iran detained two ships in the Strait of Hormuz one day after Trump declared an indefinite halt to US strikes, with no indications of resuming peace negotiations. The status of a ceasefire, originally set to end earlier this week after two weeks, is uncertain.
In a reversal shortly after warning of renewed attacks, Trump unilaterally announced on Tuesday an extension of the truce with Tehran to consider an Iranian proposal in talks aimed at concluding the two-month conflict. However, Iranian authorities have not confirmed agreement to the extension and condemned the continued US naval blockade of their ports. Chief Iranian negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf argued that a complete ceasefire requires lifting the blockade.
The IRGC seized the vessels on Wednesday for claimed violations, marking the initial ship detentions since the war’s onset in late February.
Other significant updates include: Trump expressed satisfaction with the US naval blockade and believes Iran is weakened, according to White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt. She added that no deadline has been set for Iran’s peace proposal submission, following Trump’s Tuesday statement extending the truce at Pakistan’s mediation request until Tehran addresses US positions or negotiations end.
The Pentagon stated that US Navy Secretary John Phelan is leaving his position effective immediately, offering no reason for the abrupt departure during the blockade.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan informed his German counterpart that the US-Israeli conflict with Iran is beginning to harm Europe. He remarked: ‘If we do not address this situation with an approach that prioritizes peace, the damage caused by the conflict will be far greater.’
Israeli airstrikes in southern Lebanon resulted in the death of Lebanese journalist Amal Khalil and injuries to an accompanying photographer, according to a senior Lebanese military source and her employer. Khalil’s death raised Wednesday’s toll to five, the highest since a 10-day truce between Israel and Hezbollah began on April 16. The Israeli military has not commented. Khalil, 43, and freelance photographer Zeinab Faraj were reporting near al-Tayri when a strike hit a vehicle ahead, followed by another on a nearby house they entered, per Lebanon’s health ministry. Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam described the targeting of journalists and interference with aid as war crimes.
Oil prices surged 4% on Thursday after Iran declared it would not reopen the Strait of Hormuz amid the US blockade, despite the truce extension. Around 0025 GMT, West Texas Intermediate rose 4.06% to $96.73 per barrel, and Brent crude increased 3.62% to $105.63, before both moderated slightly.
Two Palestinians, including a 14-year-old student, died in the occupied territories.
