Iran hits three ships with gunfire in Strait of Hormuz, seizes two vessels including an India-bound container ship despite ceasefire extension

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy has seized two commercial container ships in the Strait of Hormuz, escorting them to the Iranian coast after opening fire on them and a third vessel. The incident marks the first confirmed seizure of foreign merchant vessels by Iran since the US-Iran-Israel conflict began earlier this year and comes just as US President Donald Trump announced an indefinite extension of a fragile ceasefire.

The Liberia-flagged EPAMINONDAS, a container ship owned by Greece’s Technomar Shipping and operated by global giant MSC, was en route from Dubai’s Jebel Ali port to Mundra port in Gujarat, India, when it was intercepted. The Panama-flagged MSC Francesca was the second vessel seized. Both were accused by the IRGC of “operating without the required permits” and “tampering with navigation systems,” allegedly endangering maritime security in the strategic chokepoint. The IRGC described the actions as a response to ships violating its warnings and disrupting order in the Strait, which it has called a “red line.”

UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) and maritime security firms reported that the EPAMINONDAS was approached by an IRGC gunboat without radio warning. It sustained gunfire damage to its bridge, including possible rocket-propelled grenade hits, around 15 nautical miles northwest of Oman. However, the attack didn’t result any injuries to the crew.

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A third Liberia-flagged container ship, identified as Euphoria, was also fired upon in the same area but it was not seized. It was left stranded along the Iranian coast.

According to vessel tracking data from MarineTraffic, the EPAMINONDAS had been heading toward the Strait since April 18 and was indicating Mundra, Gujarat, as its destination. The MSC Francesca was reportedly signaling a route toward Sri Lanka’s Hambantota port. Both ships have now been tracked off the Iranian coast after being taken into custody.

The IRGC Navy Command issued a statement via state media, including Tasnim and IRIB, claiming the vessels, had endangered navigation. It also claimed that one of the ships had alleged had links to Israel. IRGC warned that any further attempts to transit without permission would be treated as cooperation with the “enemy” amid the ongoing US naval blockade of Iranian ports.

The seizures come amid heightened US-Iran tensions. Iran had threatened to close the Strait of Hormuz, a vital artery for global oil and LNG shipments, unless the US lifted its blockade on Iranian vessels and ports. The seizures occurred just hours after the United States announced an extension of a fragile ceasefire with Iran.

Trump’s last-minute indefinite extension of the ceasefire was intended to give Tehran time to present a unified proposal for talks, but Iranian officials and the IRGC have accused Washington of violations.

Despite the pause in large-scale hostilities, both sides have continued strategic pressure. The US maintains a naval blockade on Iranian shipping, while Iran has imposed strict controls on passage through the Strait, one of the world’s most critical energy corridors.