Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy confirmed on Wednesday that it had intercepted two vessels in the Strait of Hormuz for multiple maritime violations. The ships identified as the “MSC Francesca”, which the IRGC described as “linked to the Zionist regime”, and the “Epaminondas” were stopped for “repeated violations, including operating without authorisation and allegedly tampering with navigation systems”. The IRGC stated that both vessels were attempting to exit the strait “covertly” and were intercepted based on “intelligence monitoring”. Both ships have since been transferred to Iranian territorial waters “for inspection of their cargo and documentation”. The force also warned that any actions violating Iran’s navigation rules or threatening maritime security would be met with “decisive and legal action”.
Just hours before the seizures, President Donald Trump announced an indefinite extension of the ceasefire without securing Tehran’s formal agreement. More critically, Trump also declared that the US Navy would maintain its “blockade of Iranian maritime trade”, a measure that Tehran has consistently condemned as an “act of war”. Iran’s Foreign Ministry has since accused the United States of showing “disregard and lack of good faith” in the diplomatic process.
“Disturbing the order and safety of the Strait of Hormuz is our red line,” the IRGC declared in a statement following the seizures. The IRGC Navy has repeatedly stated that it maintains “intelligent control” over the strait and will not tolerate any actions that “endanger maritime security” or violate Iran’s “announced rules for traffic” in the waterway. This stance is supported by international maritime reports. The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) confirmed earlier on Wednesday that a cargo ship came under gunfire approximately eight nautical miles off Iran’s coast, marking the second such incident that day. Another container ship reported being “approached by a gunboat linked to the IRGC”. These UKMTO reports, while partial, confirm that Iranian naval forces are actively monitoring and, where necessary, interdicting vessels that fail to comply with established regulations.
The ship seizures unfolded against the backdrop of a confusing diplomatic landscape. On Tuesday, President Trump announced that the United States was indefinitely extending the ceasefire, a decision he attributed to a request from Pakistani mediators. However, Tehran has made clear that it does not recognise this unilateral extension and has yet to commit to a second round of talks in Islamabad. Iranian officials have reiterated that they will only return to the negotiating table once the US naval blockade is lifted.