Iran claims seizure of two cargo ships as Strait of Hormuz blockade drags on
Iran shot at and seized several cargo ships in the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday, state media reported. The Iranian media claim the vessels were attempting to break through the country's blockade of the waterway, and said two ships were seized, though their crews remained unharmed.
Iranian state media identified the targeted vessels as the Epaminondas, a Liberian-flagged ship travelling from the United Arab Emirates to India; the MSC Francesca, a Panama-flagged vessel last reported off the coast of Saudi Arabia; and a container ship named Euphoria, which Iranian reports identified as Greek-owned.
Later, the Navy of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said it had seized the Epaminondas and the MSC Francesca. The ships have been taken to Iranian territorial waters for "inspection of their cargo, documents, and records," according to the IRGC.
Economic standoff
Since the start of the war, Iran has effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz to commercial shipping. The United States has responded with its own blockade of vessels sailing to and from Iranian ports. Last weekend, both sides exchanged fire on ships in the strait.
With US president Donald Trump having extended the ceasefire on Tuesday night, both sides appear to have shifted from direct military confrontation to economic warfare. By closing the Strait of Hormuz, Iran is holding the global economy hostage, banking on rising inflation and fuel prices to pressure Washington into backing down.
The US blockade of Iranian ports, meanwhile, is inflicting heavy financial damage on Tehran. According to Trump, Iran is "collapsing financially," losing 500 million dollars per day as a result of the blockade.
When and how this standoff will end remains unclear. The reopening of the strait is one of the central issues in ongoing negotiations between Iran and the United States, and a key reason those talks have stalled.
US vice president JD Vance had been due to travel to Islamabad, Pakistan, for a second round of diplomatic talks with Iran, but his trip was cancelled at the last minute. It is not yet clear when the next round of negotiations will take place.
A commercial vessel is seen off the coast of Dubai. PHOTO © AFP
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