Two vessels attempting to transit the Strait of Hormuz have been seized by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), according to state media reports.
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Ships seized, taken towards Iran
The IRGC Navy said the ships were intercepted for allegedly violating maritime norms. "Two violating ships, "MSC-FRANCESCA" (linked to the Zionist regime) and "EPAMINODES," which endangered maritime security by operating without the necessary permits and tampering with navigation systems, were seized by the IRGC Navy and directed to the coast of Iran," the IRGC Navy said in a statement.
"Disruption of order and safety in the Strait of Hormuz is our red line," the statement added.
The vessels identified include MSC-FRANCESCA and EPAMINONDES. Data from maritime tracking platforms indicates that EPAMINONDES, sailing under a Liberian flag, was en route to Gujarat from Jebel Ali in Dubai at the time of the incident.
Series of maritime incidents
The seizures come amid a string of reported attacks on commercial vessels in the region. Earlier in the day, at least three container ships were targeted in separate incidents in and around the Strait of Hormuz.
The UK Maritime Trade Operations Centre (UKMTO) confirmed that an IRGC gunboat fired on a container ship approximately 15 nautical miles northeast of Oman.
Other vessels targeted
Another incident involved the Panama-flagged vessel Euphoria, owned by a UAE-based firm. The ship was reportedly attacked around eight nautical miles west of Iran, though UKMTO said the crew was unharmed and the vessel did not sustain damage.
The MSC Francesca was also targeted about six nautical miles off Iran's coast while moving south from the Strait of Hormuz into the Gulf of Oman. According to maritime intelligence firm Vanguard, the vessel reported damage to its hull and accommodation areas.
The developments highlight rising tensions in one of the world's most critical shipping corridors.
