Iran stops Pakistan-bound vessel in Strait of Hormuz for lack of permission

According to Iran’s IRGC Navy, the vessel SELEN, en route from Sharjah in the UAE to Karachi, was forced to turn back at the entrance of the key waterway.

The ship was denied passage due to a lack of legal clearance and transit authorisation, the commander said, as quoted by IRNA news agency.

In a post on X, IRGC Navy Commander Alireza Tangsiri said: “The container ship SELEN was turned back due to failure to comply with legal protocols and lack of permission to pass through the Strait of Hormuz. The passage of any vessel requires full coordination with Iran’s maritime authority.”

Trump pushes diplomacy amid tensions

US President Donald Trump is reportedly pursuing renewed diplomatic engagement with Iran to ease regional tensions.

In a significant move, Trump ordered a temporary halt to planned strikes on Iranian energy infrastructure, directing the Department of Defense to postpone military action for five days and describing ongoing talks as “constructive.”

He indicated that the pause would depend on progress in negotiations, signalling a cautious shift towards diplomacy.

However, Iran remains sceptical and has relaunched attacks on Israel and parts of the Gulf region, including an assault that triggered a fire at Kuwait International Airport.

Meanwhile, Trump said US officials are in contact with Iran for negotiations, though he did not provide further details.