India-Bound Container Ship Is One Of The ‘Violating’ Vessels Seized By Iran In Hormuz Strait

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards intercepted and seized two container vessels trying to pass through the Strait of Hormuz.

One of them was a Liberia-flagged ship, identified as Epaminodas, which was on its way to Mundra Port in the Indian State of Gujarat.

The second one was a Panama-flagged vessel named MSC Francesca.

Both the container ships were closer to the Iranian shores and in the northeast of Oman when they were captured by Iran and taken to its coast.

The recent ship captures in the Strait came after U.S President Donald Trump proposed extending the ceasefire to allow more time for peace talks with Iran and reach an agreement.

In another incident, a ship was fired upon and ordered to stop around 8 nm west of the Iranian coast, per UKMTO.

British Security firm Vanguard Tech identified the vessel as the Panama-flagged containership Euphoria, which it stated was “transiting outbound of the Strait of Hormuz”.

Three ships in the strait reported incidents involving gunboats, and an unidentified container ship reported it was attacked by the IRGC 15 nm northeast of Oman, which damaged its bridge, all crew members were reported to be safe.

The U.S Naval Blockade of the Strait of Hormuz and the subsequent capture of an Iranian cargo ship by the U.S Navy have escalated tensions in the critical waterway, through which a fifth of the world’s oil and gas exports pass.

The ceasefire brought a halt to ship attacks, and oil prices dropped again briefly. However, as no agreement has been reached between the U.S and Iran, the plight of the shipping companies and seafarers stuck onboard ships in the region continues.

Trump has also announced that the U.S. blockade of Iranian ports would continue, although Pakistan, which is acting as the mediator in the conflict, is trying to revive dialogue between the two sides.