The Strait of Hormuz has been fully closed, forcing oil tankers to turn back, Iran's state-run Press TV reported on Wednesday.
Vice President JD Vance said Tehran’s negotiators thought the US-Iran ceasefire agreed on Tuesday included Lebanon, but Washington had in fact not agreed to that.
Iran’s parliamentary speaker said several key clauses of Tehran’s proposed framework for negotiations with the United States have already been violated, casting doubt on the basis for talks expected to begin in Pakistan.
The United States and Iran will hold talks in Pakistan on Saturday, the White House confirmed.
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Air Force General Dan Caine said the ceasefire with Iran was only a temporary halt and forces remained ready to resume operations.
A drone attack hit Saudi Arabia’s East-West oil pipeline on Wednesday, damaging a key export route carrying crude from the Persian Gulf to the Red Sea, hours after a ceasefire between the United States and Iran took effect, the Financial Times reported.
Iran could reopen the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday or Friday ahead of talks with the United States in Pakistan if a ceasefire framework is agreed, Reuters reported, citing a senior Iranian official.
President Donald Trump said in a post on Truth Social on Wednesday that the US would work with Iran after what he called a “regime change,” ruling out uranium enrichment and signaling possible sanctions relief.
Iran International received footage showing a civilian family in fear during Israeli and US strikes on an IRGC base in the early hours of April 6. The video shows the base located beside residential homes, suggesting Iran was using civilians as human shields ahead of the ceasefire.
US President Donald Trump on Wednesday accused The New York Times and CNN of reporting what he called a “totally fake” 10-point plan related to Iran negotiations on Truth Social.
“The Failing New York Times and Fake News CNN each reported a totally FAKE TEN POINT PLAN on the Iran negotiations which was meant to discredit the people involved in the peace process. All ten points were a made up HOAX - EVIL LOSERS!!! MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN,” he said.
Foreign Minister Anita Anand on Wednesday thanked Pakistan for its role in securing the two-week Middle East ceasefire and said Canada stands ready to support upcoming talks. Both agreed the ceasefire must hold and extend to Lebanon.
The The New York Times reported that the Strait of Hormuz remained effectively closed on Wednesday, nearly 24 hours after a ceasefire between the United States and Iran, with no oil or gas tankers passing through the vital waterway.
Citing data from ship-tracking firm Kpler, the report said only a handful of bulk cargo vessels crossed the strait, while tanker traffic remained halted.
The report said uncertainty over safety conditions, including the presence of sea mines and conflicting guidance from Iranian authorities, has contributed to the near standstill in maritime traffic. "Iran said vessels must coordinate with its military and follow designated routes, while lingering concerns among shipping companies and insurers have further slowed movement," the report said.
US Senator John Fetterman said on Wednesday that “every single thing Iran has done is a war crime,” as he voiced strong support for US military action.
In an interview with Fox News, Fetterman described the United States as a “force of good” globally and said he would vote against a new War Powers resolution aimed at limiting the president’s authority in the conflict.
Iran’s political establishment has largely rallied behind the decision by the Supreme National Security Council to accept a two-week ceasefire mediated by Pakistan, while critics warn the pause in fighting could harm prospects for political change.
President Massoud Pezeshkian described the truce as “the fruit of the blood of the martyred great leader Khamenei and the achievement of the presence of all people on the scene,” referring to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, who was killed earlier in the conflict.
Several lawmakers framed the development as a strategic success. Ebrahim Azizi, head of parliament’s National Security and Foreign Policy Committee, said the ceasefire reflected the “victory of the Islamic Republic” and the “surrender of the enemy.”
Bloomberg said in an opinion piece on Wednesday that Iran’s ability to control the Strait of Hormuz, a key global oil chokepoint, will gradually decline over the next five years as regional players expand alternative export routes.
"The recent ceasefire with the US highlighted Tehran’s strategic leverage, but neighboring countries have already begun bypassing the strait. Saudi Arabia and the UAE are expanding pipelines around Hormuz, while Kuwait and Iraq may follow, reducing Iran’s long-term influence over Gulf energy flows," the piece said.
Bloomberg added that even if future agreements affect the strait’s status, Iran’s dominance over this vital waterway will never match its strategic importance at the start of the recent fighting.
People from inside Iran reported a series of explosions and air‑defense activations across the country over the past day, according to messages received by Iran International on Wednesday.
Around midnight, three explosions were heard in the Mehrshahr area of Karaj, west of Tehran. Earlier, around 8:00 p.m. residents in the Shahr‑e Rey and Masoudieh districts of Tehran reported hearing air‑defense fire. At roughly the same time, air‑defense systems at the Montazer Ghaem power plant in Fardis, Alborz province, were active continuously for about 10 to 15 minutes.
Later on midnight local time, a loud explosion was reported in the southern port city of Bushehr.
French President Emmanuel Macron said on Wednesday Iran is ready to unblock the Strait of Hormuz, calling it a good thing.
"About 15 countries are now mobilized under French leadership for a strictly defensive mission, coordinated with Iran, to restore navigation when conditions are met," he said.
US President Donald Trump on Wednesday criticized NATO in a recent post on Truth Social, saying the alliance “wasn’t there when we needed them.”
“NATO WASN’T THERE WHEN WE NEEDED THEM, AND THEY WON’T BE THERE IF WE NEED THEM AGAIN. REMEMBER GREENLAND, THAT BIG, POORLY RUN, PIECE OF ICE!” he said in his post.