Iran Seizes Two Ships In Hormuz; Vessel Linked To World’s Largest Shipper MSC Among Them

Last Updated:April 22, 2026, 16:07 IST

Iran’s Revolutionary Guard said it detained MSC Francesca and Epaminondas over alleged violations, pulling the world’s largest shipping company into the Hormuz crisis.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has said it seized at least two vessels in the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday, as tensions persist in the region despite a recently announced ceasefire extension by US President Donald Trump.

In a statement, the IRGC Navy said it had detained two ships — MSC Francesca and Epaminondas — accusing them of “jeopardising maritime security" and operating without necessary permits, as well as allegedly tampering with navigation systems. The vessels were directed towards the Iranian coast, it said.

“Disrupting order and safety in the Strait of Hormuz is our red line," the IRGC said.

Semi-official Iranian news agencies, including Fars and Tasnim, reported that a third vessel — a Greek-owned ship named Euphoria — had also been targeted and was now stranded along Iran’s shores.

According to the reports, the IRGC described the ships as “violating vessels" attempting to pass through the strategic waterway, which handles a significant share of global oil shipments.

According to MarineTraffic, the container ship MSC Francesca, sailing under the Panama flag, was last reported in the Gulf of Oman and was listed as “at anchor" with minimal movement. Another vessel, Epaminondas, flagged in Liberia, was also located in the same region and reported as “stopped".

Earlier, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) centre had said two ships came under fire in the Strait of Hormuz, though it did not identify the vessels.

The developments come just a day after Trump announced an extension of a ceasefire in the region.

News world Iran Seizes Two Ships In Hormuz; Vessel Linked To World’s Largest Shipper MSC Among Them

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