IRGC Seizes Two Ships in Hormuz, Says They Tried Secret Exit

The Navy of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced on Wednesday, April 22, that it had seized “two violating vessels” that it claimed intended to “covertly exit” the Strait of Hormuz.

According to the statement from the force, the ships MSC Francesca, alleged to be linked to “Israel,” and Epaminondas were stopped because they intended to exit the Strait of Hormuz “secretly,” “without authorization,” and by “committing repeated violations, tampering with navigational aid systems, and endangering maritime security.”

Earlier, the maritime intelligence firm “Vanguard” had reported that the Panama-flagged cargo ship MSC Francesca and the Greek-owned container ship Epaminondas were targeted. A container ship in northern Oman was also reported to have been targeted.

The IRGC Navy command’s account on the social media platform X wrote regarding the matter that the two violating ships, MSC Francesca, which the IRGC Navy claimed is linked to Israel, and Epaminondas, which “had endangered maritime security without the necessary authorization and by tampering with navigation systems,” were seized by the IRGC Navy and directed toward the Iranian coast.

The IRGC Navy also stated, “Disrupting the order and safety of the Strait of Hormuz is our red line.”

This announcement comes on a day when, according to maritime sources, three container ships were targeted by gunfire.

The IRGC, which has closed the Strait of Hormuz to ships and oil tankers since February 28, briefly reopened the strait for one day following a ceasefire in the war with the United States and Israel. However, following the breakdown of negotiations between the parties and the commencement of a naval blockade on Iranian ports, the IRGC has closed it once again.