Iran’s elite Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced on Wednesday that its naval forces intercepted two vessels attempting to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, escorting them into Iranian territorial waters over alleged violations.
In a statement, the IRGC said the ships were identified and stopped during operations in the vital shipping lane, accusing them of breaching maritime regulations enforced by Tehran.
According to the Guards, one of the vessels, identified as “MSC Francesca,” was linked to Israel—referred to in the statement as the “Zionist regime”—while the second ship, “Epaminondas,” was accused of tampering with navigation systems and endangering maritime safety.
“The two offending ships were seized by the IRGC’s naval forces and directed to the Iranian coast,” the statement read, adding that such actions posed risks to secure navigation in the region.
Iranian authorities reiterated that all vessels transiting the Strait must comply with the country’s regulations, including seeking permission to enter or exit the Gulf through the waterway.
The Strait of Hormuz remains one of the world’s most critical maritime corridors, handling roughly a fifth of global oil and gas shipments, alongside other key commodities.
