Iranian forces attacked three commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, seizing two, in a major escalation threatening the vital global trade route.
DUBAI: Iranian Revolutionary Guards naval forces seized two container ships and fired upon a third in the Strait of Hormuz.
The incidents mark a significant escalation in the Middle East conflict, directly threatening one of the world’s most crucial oil and trade shipping lanes.
British maritime security agency UKMTO reported a container ship was fired upon by an Iranian gunboat 15 nautical miles northeast of Oman. The agency stated the attack caused heavy damage to the bridge, but all crew were safe and there was no fire.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) said they stopped two ships attempting to cross the strait and directed them to Iranian waters. The IRGC accused the vessels of breaching its blockade of the route, imposed after the war erupted with US and Israeli strikes on Iran.
Iranian broadcaster IRIB named the seized ships as the MSC-Francesca and the Epaminondas. The IRGC alleged the Francesca was linked to Israel, while the Epaminondas lacked necessary permits and had tampered with navigation systems.
In a separate incident, UKMTO reported a cargo ship eight nautical miles west of Iran was fired upon and stopped. Security firm Vanguard Tech identified this vessel as the Panama-flagged container ship Euphoria, which later resumed its journey.
The head of the UN’s International Maritime Organization condemned the attacks. Secretary General Arsenio Dominguez called the actions “unacceptable” and demanded the immediate release of any ships and seafarers.
Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has been heavily restricted by Iran since the start of the war. The US military is concurrently enforcing a counter-blockade of Iranian ports.
