Iran’s Revolutionary Guards seized two cargo ships, including a Gujarat-bound vessel, in the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday, intensifying tensions in the Gulf region.
The incident occurred just hours after U.S. President Donald Trump extended the two-week ceasefire between Iran and Israel. Maritime sources confirmed that the Panama-flagged MSC Francesca and Liberia-flagged Epaminodes were intercepted and taken into custody by Iranian forces.
Iranian state television reported that both ships are now docked at Iranian ports under IRGC control. The seizure follows last week’s attacks on two India-flagged vessels attempting to cross the strait, a vital global energy corridor.
Analysts described the move as a retaliatory response to the U.S. Navy’s recent operation near the Gulf of Oman, where American Marines boarded and seized two Iranian-flagged cargo ships as part of a naval blockade.
The Strait of Hormuz, which handles nearly one-fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas supply, has become a flashpoint amid escalating military and diplomatic friction.
Officials in New Delhi are monitoring the situation closely, as the incident could strain India-Iran relations and disrupt trade routes connecting western Indian ports to the Gulf.
Security experts warned that continued hostilities in the region could threaten global shipping and energy markets.
