Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has seized two vessels, including an India-bound ship, in the Strait of Hormuz, citing violations of maritime safety and navigation rules. The ships, identified as MSC Francesca and Epaminondes, were accused of tampering with navigation systems and operating without proper permits, which the IRGC described as a threat to safe passage in one of the world’s most critical trade routes.
The Epaminondes, sailing under a Liberian flag, was headed to Gujarat from Dubai when it was intercepted. On the same day, three other container ships came under attack in separate incidents in the region, with one vessel reporting hull damage. These developments highlight Iran’s firm stance on controlling activity in the Strait of Hormuz, through which nearly 20% of global oil shipments pass.
The seizures come amid heightened tensions between Iran and the United States, with Washington pressing Gulf nations to reduce reliance on Iranian oil. For India, the detention of the India-bound vessel raises concerns over trade disruptions, shipping costs, and energy security, underscoring the fragile balance in a maritime corridor vital to global commerce.