Iran Cuts Internet Access for Crew of Seized Vessel Tosca

“Their internet is cut off. The Iranian side has restricted their access, and they are not in contact with the outside world, not even to send greetings to their families. They are doing well. They say it is safer to be with the Americans than to be in Iranian waters.”

IranWire has obtained information indicating that the Islamic Republic has severely restricted internet access for the sailors aboard the container ship “Tosca,” which was seized by the U.S. in the northern waters of the Sea of Oman on Sunday, April 19, to the point that they are effectively cut off. As a result, the crew members are unable to even check in with their loved ones.

A source familiar with the situation told IranWire that all crew members are in good health, and some have remarked: “Being with the Americans is safer than being in Iranian waters.”

IranWire has also learned that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ (IRGC) claim regarding the presence of crew families on board is false. Previously, the IRGC’s Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters claimed that it did not intervene during the USS Esperance’s interception of the Tosca because there were “families” on board.

What Do We Know About the Seized Vessel?

Five days after the American ship Esperance intercepted the Iranian-flagged container ship Tosca in the Sea of Oman, the seizure by U.S. forces remains in effect.

A source, whose identity is protected for security reasons, told IranWire that the crew is in good health and that the American seizure has not negatively impacted their well-being. This report comes amid earlier information that the ship’s captain, “Bakhtiar Hosseinzadeh,” had been creating difficult conditions for the crew through “ideological vetting” and the “imposition of ideology.” Sources suggest Hosseinzadeh is closely aligned with the IRGC, with staff often referring to him as the “guardian of the IRGC’s interests in the shipping industry.”

According to information received by IranWire, the captain’s disregard for several hours of warnings from the Esperance ordering the commercial ship to return to its position and not move toward the Iranian coastline led to the American intervention, which placed the crew’s lives at risk.

While Iranian authorities have remained silent on the Tosca’s cargo, U.S. maritime security sources told Reuters on Monday, April 20, that the vessel was likely carrying “dual-use” items that Washington views as having potential “military applications.”

The Tosca departed from Port Klang, Malaysia, on April 12 and was scheduled to reach a southern Iranian port on April 20. Iranian media, rather than addressing the nature of the cargo on the U.S.-sanctioned ship, cited Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson “Geng Shuan,g” claiming the ship did not receive military-grade cargo from China, a claim that seems irrelevant, as U.S. sources had not mentioned China in their statements.

The “Family” Claim

On April 20, IRGC spokesperson Ebrahim Zolfaghari claimed: “Following the blatant aggression by American terrorist commandos against an Iranian commercial vessel… the armed forces of the Islamic Republic were prepared for a decisive response. However, due to the presence of family members of the crew, we were restricted from protecting their lives.”

A source close to the matter told IranWire that no families are on board: “Every ship has a crew list that must be presented at every port. The crew list presented in Malaysia should include the names and positions of all crew members. They could publish this list, but as far as I know, there are no families on this cargo and container ship.”

Iran Restricts Crew Internet

According to the source, “Their internet is cut off. The Iranian side restricted it… They only had about 200 megabytes of capacity provided by the shipping organization to communicate with the outside world. However, even this small amount is effectively gone for the Tosca crew.”

Despite this, the Islamic Republic’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has called the seizure “illegal” and “maritime piracy,” demanding the immediate release of the ship and crew. The regime claims it has referred the matter to the UN Security Council and the International Maritime Organization.

“If the Blockade Lasts a Month, Iran’s Naval Fleet Will Be Destroyed”

The source explains that the blockade of ships departing from or destined for Iran, which began on April 13, has imposed exorbitant costs on Iranian shipping. “A ship incurs costs even when stationary: personnel, water, food, and fuel costs, which are calculated hourly along with subsidiary expenses. There is also the cost of cleaning the hull, which gets covered in barnacles after 15-20 days, reducing speed and increasing fuel consumption.”

The source continued: “These astronomical costs are only justified when a ship is loaded and moving. If a ship sits for more than 15-20 days, the crew still needs to be paid. If you keep a hundred ships in this state, it becomes a hundred million dollars a month. It is a very heavy figure. If a ship stops, it is a ‘dead ship.’ With the system the U.S. has implemented, the Islamic Republic’s shipping fleet is moving toward destruction.”

Despite this, the regime’s solution is not to negotiate or end the war, but to cut off internet access even at sea and impose further economic, psychological, and livelihood costs on the people.