Iran Goes Berserk! Fires Upon and Seizes Ships Attempting to Exit the Strait of Hormuz

The Strait of Hormuz is heating up again after Iran took unprecedented action since the war broke out earlier this year. Amid stalled peace talks, Tehran not only fired shots but also seized commercial ships attempting to exit the Gulf.

The Iranian government stated on Wednesday (22/4/2026) local time that it had captured two container ships trying to leave the Gulf via the Strait of Hormuz, after previously firing upon those ships and another one. This marks the first seizure since the Iran-US-Israel war began in February.

Tasnim News Agency reported that the seizure was carried out by the navy of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). In its statement, the IRGC emphasised that any disruption to order and security in the strait would be considered a “red line”.

Iran’s move to tighten this route has major implications. The Strait of Hormuz has long been the passage for around one-fifth of the world’s daily oil and gas supply. Under normal conditions, about 130 ships pass in and out of the Gulf daily, but now the number has drastically shrunk to just a handful.

On the other side, the US has also imposed a blockade on Iranian ships after several weeks of conflict. With peace talks currently halted, the future of shipping in this vital route remains highly uncertain.

“The latest seizure makes it clear that even the ‘open’ Strait of Hormuz is not safe for seafarers, ships, and cargo,” said Peter Sand, head analyst at logistics intelligence platform Xeneta.

Ships Fired Upon and Seized

One of the seized ships is the Panamanian-flagged MSC Francesca. Montenegro’s Minister of Maritime Affairs, Filip Radulovic, confirmed that four crew members from his country were on board and assured that the entire crew is safe.

“Negotiations between the shipping company and the Iranian side are ongoing, and relevant state authorities continue to maintain contact with the crew,” he said, as reported by Reuters.

The IRGC accused the MSC Francesca and another Liberian-flagged ship, Epaminondas, of operating without the necessary permits and manipulating their navigation systems.

The Epaminondas, operated by a Greek company, was reportedly fired upon about 20 nautical miles northwest of Oman. According to reports from the UK’s Maritime Trade Operations Centre and maritime security sources, the ship sustained damage to its bridge after being hit by gunfire and rocket-propelled grenades from IRGC speedboats.

Its operator, Technomar Shipping Inc, confirmed the attack and stated that the entire crew is safe. In a subsequent update, the company confirmed that the Epaminondas had been boarded by Iranian forces.

The ship carries 21 crew members consisting of Ukrainians and Filipinos, according to the Greek coast guard, which has not yet been able to officially confirm the seizure status.

“Technomar remains in close communication with relevant authorities in the region,” the company said. “Our priority is the safety and well-being of the crew, while working with all relevant parties to ensure their safety and resolve the situation promptly.”

Maritime security sources indicated that the boat attacking the Epaminondas was manned by three people. The ship’s captain also reported no radio communication before the attack, although the vessel had obtained transit permission beforehand. The ship is now believed to be heading towards Bandar Abbas.

Meanwhile, the MSC Francesca was reportedly hit by gunfire about eight nautical miles west of Iran but sustained no damage, and the entire crew is safe.

A third ship, the Liberian-flagged Euphoria, was also fired upon in the same area. However, it was undamaged and continued its voyage until reaching Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates.

According to several sources, the three ships were attempting to exit the Strait of Hormuz in convoy in the early hours, with some having temporarily disabled their navigation systems.

This seizure is the first since 2024, when Iran captured the container ship MSC Aries in the same area. To date, there is no information regarding the cargo carried by these ships.