Iran seizes two ships in the Strait of Hormuz, citing security reasons

April 22, 2026

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) reported seizing at least two ships in the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday. This action comes at a time when tensions remain high in the region, despite US President Donald Trump’s recent announcement of an extension of the ceasefire.

According to the IRGC Navy, the ships, MSC Francesca and Epaminondas, were detained. They were accused of “endangering maritime security,” operating without permission, and tampering with navigation systems. The ships were later diverted to the Iranian coast.

Reports of a third ship also targeted

According to Iranian news agencies Fars News Agency and Tasnim News Agency, a third ship—the Greek-owned Euphoria—was also targeted and is now stranded off the Iranian coast.

The IRGC warned that disrupting security and order in the Strait of Hormuz is its “red line.”

Tensions rise in the strategic waterway

This incident comes at a time when a ceasefire in the region was recently extended, but tensions have not subsided. The Strait of Hormuz is a vital route for global trade, carrying a large portion of the world’s oil and gas.

According to the ship tracking platform MarineTraffic, the MSC Francesca was at anchor in the Gulf of Oman, while the Epaminondas was also found stranded in the same area.

Stricter rules and warnings issued

Earlier, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) also reported attacks on two ships in the Strait of Hormuz, although their names were not disclosed.

Iran has reiterated that all ships entering or exiting the Gulf of Hormuz must obtain prior permission. This route is used for approximately one-fifth of the world’s oil and gas exports in normal times.