IRGC seizes two vessels in the Strait of Hormuz over alleged violations

Two ships have vanished from tracking systems, sending fresh shockwaves through one of the world’s most vital chokepoints—the Strait of Hormuz. Tensions are rising fast as Iran tightens its grip amid an escalating standoff with the United States. Iranian forces, led by the naval arm of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, seized two commercial vessels—MSC Francesca and Epaminondas—claiming maritime violations. Officials allege the ships sailed without proper permits and disabled AIS transponders, effectively going “dark.” But the situation quickly escalated. When one vessel, reportedly Greek-owned, tried to continue its jou ey, it was fired upon. An IRGC gunboat struck its bridge, causing visible damage. Since then, both ships have disappeared from tracking systems. Their exact locations remain unknown. Crews are believed to be safe—for now—but uncertainty is growing in an already volatile region.