The fragile US-Iran ceasefire is under severe strain after American forces seized an Iranian-flagged cargo vessel in the Strait of Hormuz, marking the first direct use of force since the naval blockade began. According to the United States Navy, the vessel ignored repeated warnings, prompting a guided missile destroyer to fire on its engine room before Marines boarded and took control. Former US President Donald Trump said the ship was under sanctions, calling the move justified enforcement. Iran has reacted sharply, with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claiming drone attacks on US warships and warning of further retaliation. Experts say the incident risks triggering a wider escalation, with the Strait - a critical global oil chokepoint - now at the centre of rising tensions. With talks already hanging in the balance, this latest confrontation has deepened mistrust between Washington and Tehran, raising serious doubts over whether the next round of negotiations will even take place.