Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy announced on Wednesday it had seized two vessels in the Strait of Hormuz and escorted them into Iranian territorial waters. The IRGC stated that disrupting order and safety in the strategic waterway is a “red line” for Iran.
In a statement, the IRGC identified the ships as the MSC Francesca, which it claims is linked to Israel, and the Epaminodes. It accused both vessels of operating without authorization, repeatedly violating maritime regulations, tampering with navigation systems, and attempting to pass through the Strait covertly.
The IRGC said its forces intercepted the ships based on “intelligence dominance” to enforce Iran’s laws and protect maritime security. The vessels have since been moved to Iran’s coast for cargo and document inspections.
This development follows earlier incidents in the Strait, where at least one vessel was fired upon off Iran’s coast and another sustained damage after coming under attack near Oman. Reiterating its stance, the IRGC Navy said maintaining order in the Strait of Hormuz is a “red line” for Iran, warning that any actions deemed to threaten safe passage would be closely monitored and met with decisive action.