IRGC seizes Israeli ship, second vessel for violations in Strait of Hormuz

The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Navy says it has intercepted and transferred to Iranian territorial waters two vessels for having committed violations in the Strait of Hormuz.

In a statement released on Wednesday, the IRGC identified the vessels as the MSC-Francesca, which it said belongs to the Israeli regime, and the Epaminodes.

The vessels, it said, were operating without authorization, committing repeated violations, tampering with navigation aid systems, and endangering maritime security in an attempt to exit the strait covertly.

"With the intelligence dominance of the forces, these vessels were identified and stopped in order to uphold the rights of the noble Iranian nation in the Strait of Hormuz," the IRGC Navy said.

It added that the vessels have now been transferred to Iranian territorial waters for inspection of their cargo and documents.

The IRGC Navy reiterated that any attempt to disrupt the implementation of laws announced by Iran for transit through the Strait of Hormuz, or any activity inconsistent with safe passage through this strategic waterway, will be continuously monitored and met with decisive and legal action against violators.

The operation came amid ongoing tensions over the US naval blockade of Iranian ports, which Tehran has condemned as an act of aggression and a violation of international law.

Iran has placed special controls on the strategic waterway days after the start of the US-Israeli war on February 28, rolling out a new regulatory framework that requires all vessels to secure authorization before transiting.

A draft bill currently before parliament would codify these rules, including a ban on Israeli‑linked ships, mandatory clearance for vessels from “hostile countries,” and the imposition of transit fees.

The seizures came just hours after US President Donald Trump announced an extension of the ceasefire, even as he confirmed that the US Navy would maintain its maritime blockade of Iranian ports, a move Tehran considers a violation of the ceasefire.

Iran has not requested an extension of the truce and has warned that it could attempt to break the blockade by force if tensions escalate further.

The US-Israeli war of aggression has already caused severe disruption to global shipping, as the Strait, which normally carries 20 million barrels of oil per day, remains largely closed, and energy prices have soared.

The US-Israeli war began with a wave of airstrikes on February 28, including the assassination of Iran’s late Leader, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei.

Iran responded with 100 waves of retaliatory strikes under Operation True Promise 4, launching hundreds of ballistic and hypersonic missiles at American bases across the region and Israeli positions.

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