[STG_QA] Scheduled News Item Under Test (Type: Pick News)

President Donald Trump is escalating pressure ahead of the expiry of a ceasefire, saying US forces fired on an Iranian cargo ship near the Strait of Hormuz. It remains unclear whether talks scheduled for April 20 will go ahead, as Iran has said it will not negotiate unless the US maritime blockade is lifted.

Trump wrote on Truth Social on April 19 that the United States stopped an Iranian cargo vessel in the Gulf of Oman near the Strait of Hormuz as it tried to break through the US maritime blockade and had taken control of it. He also said there was a hole in the ship's engine room, suggesting the US Navy fired on and seized the vessel.

If no agreement is reached this time, Trump said, the United States would "no longer play nice guys." He said Washington had made a "very fair and reasonable offer" and hoped Iran would accept it. Otherwise, he added, the United States would destroy all of Iran's power plants and bridges "instantly" and "easily."

The United States and Iran had appeared to be moving toward easing tensions on April 17, after a ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon took effect and Iran declared the Strait of Hormuz open. But Trump kept the maritime blockade on Iran in place, and Tehran called that a violation of the ceasefire agreement before closing Hormuz again.

Attention is now focused on a second round of US-Iran talks said to be planned in Islamabad. The biggest issues are whether Iran will be allowed to maintain its nuclear program and whether nuclear materials will be removed from the country. The United States is seeking to force Iran to give up its nuclear program entirely, while Iran is demanding an end to the maritime blockade in return for resuming talks. The gap between the two sides remains wide.

Some have raised the possibility that Trump's seizure of, and gunfire at, the Iranian vessel could further inflame Iran's military and derail a resumption of negotiations. Axios reported that several Iranian officials said Trump's real intention may be to restart the war.

Park Su-rim, Hankyung.com reporter paksr365@hankyung.com