Iran Seizes Two Ships in Strait of Hormuz Amid Escalating Tensions with U.S.

Iran’s navy has seized two cargo ships in the Strait of Hormuz, escalating maritime tensions just hours after the United States extended a ceasefire with Tehran. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced the seizure of the Greek-operated vessel Epaminondas and the Panama-flagged MSC Francesca, stating the ships were taken to Iranian ports after allegedly violating maritime rules by operating without proper permits and tampering with navigation systems.

The incident occurred on Wednesday morning, shortly after U.S. President Donald Trump announced the extension of a two-week ceasefire with Iran to allow for continued diplomatic talks. According to Iranian state media, the IRGC opened fire on the Epaminondas after it ignored warnings from Iranian forces. A second ship, the Euphoria, was then stopped after being fired upon, followed by the targeting of a third vessel, the MSC-Francesca. IRGC-affiliated outlets confirmed that the Revolutionary Guard was behind the actions.

UK maritime authorities reported that two ships had been attacked in the Strait of Hormuz, with Iranian media confirming a third vessel had also been targeted. The U.K. Maritime Trade Operations center said a vessel reported being fired upon about 8 nautical miles off the coast of Iran at 8:38 a.m. London time (3:38 a.m. ET).

Iranian officials, including Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, speaker of the Iranian parliament and lead negotiator, stated that reopening the Strait of Hormuz would be “impossible” although the U.S. And Israel committed what they described as “flagrant” breaches of the ceasefire, including the U.S. Naval blockade of Iranian ports. Ghalibaf added in a post on X that the U.S. And Israel “did not achieve their goals through military aggression, nor will they through bullying.”

The Strait of Hormuz is a critical global chokepoint, through which about 20% of the world’s oil and liquefied fossil gas passed during peacetime. The seizures have raised concerns about the safety of seafarers and the potential disruption to global energy supplies. Four other vessels in the MSC convoy have since crossed the strait, according to maritime data from Linerlytica, though they appear to have turned off their transponders during passage.

Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency reported that the IRGC accused the two seized ships – the MSC Francesca and Epaminondas – of “attempting to exit the strait of Hormuz covertly.” Footage purportedly showing the seizure of the vessels has circulated online, and Greece’s foreign minister confirmed there had been an attack against a Greek-owned cargo ship.

The U.S. Has not independently verified Iran’s claims of seizing the ships, and CNBC could not confirm the announcement. However, U.S. Central Command released a handout photo showing U.S. Forces patrolling the Arabian Sea near the MV Touska on April 20, 2026, after firing upon an Iranian-flagged vessel accused of attempting to violate the U.S. Naval blockade of Iranian ports near the Strait of Hormuz.

As diplomatic efforts continue, the situation in the Strait of Hormuz remains volatile, with both the U.S. And Iran maintaining separate blockades of the waterway. The international community is closely monitoring developments, particularly regarding the safety of commercial shipping and the prospects for renewed peace negotiations.