Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps) said on Wednesday that two vessels have been seized in the Strait of Hormuz and transferred into Iranian waters.
“The ships were allegedly operating without proper authorization, repeatedly violating regulations and manipulating navigation systems, thereby endangering maritime safety while attempting to leave the Strait of Hormuz covertly,” the IRGC said in a statement broadcast by Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting. It added that the vessels were detained “in defense of Iran’s national rights.”
Iranian media also reported that a third vessel, owned by a Greek company, may have been targeted by the IRGC, according to CNN.
There has been no independent confirmation of the seizures. However, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations earlier reported that at least two container ships were fired upon in the same area.
According to UKMTO, the first incident occurred about 15 nautical miles northeast of Oman, when a vessel reported being approached by an IRGC speedboat and then fired upon, causing significant damage to the bridge. All crew members were reported safe.
A second incident took place around 8 nautical miles west of Iran, where the captain of a cargo ship reported being shot at while departing the area. The vessel was left stopped in the water, though no injuries or major damage were reported.
The IRGC has warned it could close the Strait of Hormuz until the U.S. blockade is lifted, raising further concerns about maritime security in one of the world’s most critical energy routes.
