India-bound ship seized amid strait of Hormuz tensions
Iran Apr 22: The calm of the Strait of Hormuz was shattered on Wednesday as two ships, including an India-bound container vessel, were seized by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
The vessels, identified as MSC-Francesca and Epaminondes, were accused of manipulating navigation systems and sailing without proper permits, according to the semi-official Tasnim news agency.
The Epaminondes, flagged under Liberia, was en route from Jebel Ali in Dubai to Gujarat. The IRGC escorted both ships to the Iranian coast, asserting that “disruption of order and safety in the Strait of Hormuz is our red line.”
Earlier in the day, at least three container ships faced attacks in the strategic waterway. While no crew members were injured, reports indicate damage to the hulls and accommodations of the MSC-Francesca. The UK Maritime Trade Operations Centre confirmed these incidents, highlighting growing instability in one of the world’s busiest maritime routes.
The seizure comes amid diplomatic friction, even as US President Donald Trump extended a ceasefire with Iran, urging Tehran to submit a “unified proposal” to end the conflict. With global trade routes at stake, shipping companies and regional powers are closely watching developments, wary of any escalation that could ripple across international commerce.
