Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed that the vessels were intercepted for allegedly operating without proper authorisation, violating navigation rules, and attempting to exit the strategic waterway covertly.
The ships have since been moved to Iranian waters, while a third, reportedly a Greek-owned vessel, has been left immobilised off Iran’s coast after being targeted.
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The development comes shortly after maritime authorities flagged security concerns in the region, with reports of container ships coming under gunfire in the Strait, a critical chokepoint that handles a significant share of global oil shipments.
The latest escalation also coincides with a fragile diplomatic backdrop. US President Donald Trump has extended the ceasefire with Iran, even as Washington continues to maintain a blockade on Iranian ports, a move Tehran has called an “act of war”.
Trump has indicated that any rollback of the blockade could weaken the chances of a broader peace deal, as the US awaits a “unified proposal” from what he described as Iran’s “fractured” leadership.
While there is no independent verification of the vessel seizures yet, the incident underscores the growing volatility in the Strait of Hormuz.
Also read: Iran attacks ship in Strait of Hormuz, complicating diplomatic efforts to resume talks
