IRGC Fires on Three Ships, Seizes Two in Hormuz

Darwin, 22 April :

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has reportedly opened fire on at least three vessels and seized two of them after they attempted to pass through the Strait of Hormuz despite prior warnings.

According to Iranian media reports on Wednesday morning, the IRGC confirmed the attacks, stating that two ships had been taken into custody and were being escorted toward Iranian waters.

The IRGC-affiliated Fars News Agency reported that a vessel named Euphoria was targeted and is now stranded near the Iranian coast.

Citing a statement from the IRGC Navy, other Iranian outlets said that two vessels—MSC Francesca and Epaminondas—have been “seized” and are being moved toward Iran’s shoreline.

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) center said that an IRGC gunboat fired on a container ship in the Strait of Hormuz.

IRGC Gun Boat in Strait of Hormuz.

The vessel was identified as the Greek-flagged Epaminondas, according to BBC Verify.

The ship’s captain claimed that no radio warning had been issued by UKMTO.

However, Iran’s Nour News Agency, affiliated with the country’s Supreme National Security Council, denied the claim, stating that the vessel had ignored warnings from Iranian armed forces.

UKMTO said the incident occurred about 15 nautical miles northeast of Oman, causing significant damage to the ship’s bridge.

A third cargo vessel was also reportedly attacked while attempting to transit the Strait of Hormuz, according to maritime intelligence firm Vanguard, which spoke to BBC Verify.

The Panama-flagged MSC Francesca was targeted about six nautical miles off the Iranian coast as it headed south toward the Gulf of Oman. Vanguard said the IRGC had signaled the vessel and ordered it to drop anchor. Damage was reported in the crew quarters, though further details remain unclear.