Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy has seized two commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, including one reportedly bound for India, escalating maritime tensions despite recent ceasefire extensions and partial waterway reopenings.
Iranian state media identified the captured ships as MSC Francesca and Epaminondas, which were intercepted for alleged violations, including unauthorised operations and navigation system manipulation. The Epaminondas was heading from Jebel Ali to Gujarat, raising immediate concerns for India-Gulf trade routes, which handle 60% crude and 25% LPG imports through the chokepoint.
The incident occurred days after US President Trump’s indefinite ceasefire extension with Iran, underscoring fragile de-escalation. No crew injuries reported, but the seizures compound recent attacks on two Indian-flagged vessels fired upon by Iranian gunboats—prompting New Delhi to summon Tehran’s envoy expressing “deep concerns.”
India’s External Affairs Ministry condemned threats to commercial shipping, particularly vessels carrying essential energy cargoes. The nation maintains 16 ships in Gulf waters, including six crude carriers and two LPG tankers, amid IMO evacuation plans for 800 stranded vessels and 20,000 seafarers.
