Two container ships have been seized by Iranian forces in the strategic Strait of Hormuz, with reports indicating they are being escorted towards the port of Bandar Abbas. This development, reported on Thursday, highlights tensions in this crucial waterway.

On Wednesday, Iran’s Revolutionary Guard announced the detention of the vessels, named the MSC Francesca and the Epaminondas. They accused the ships of lacking the necessary operational permits and manipulating their navigation systems. These allegations have yet to be independently confirmed.

A relative of one of the crew members aboard described the situation, revealing that around 20 heavily armed Iranians boarded the ship. While the crew’s movements are restricted, they are reportedly being treated well, as conveyed to Reuters on Thursday.

According to sources cited by the news agency, both ships are managed by the Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) and carry a total of 40 crew members. They are currently being directed towards Bandar Abbas.

A recent photo shows the Panama-flagged MSC Francesca docked in Long Beach, California, dated April 16, 2025, captured by Efrain Morales for Reuters.

Filip Radulovic, Montenegro’s minister of maritime affairs, provided an update via state television, stating, “The ship is anchored nine nautical miles from the Iranian coast. Negotiations between MSC and Iran are ongoing, and our sailors are fine.”

Before their seizure on Wednesday, the ships reported coming under fire near the strait, underscoring the increasingly volatile conditions in one of the world’s most critical shipping lanes. 

The situation is unfolding after U.S. forces recently seized an Iranian-flagged cargo ship in the Gulf of Oman as it was approaching Iranian waters Sunday.

Soldiers take part in the operation seizing container ships MSC Francesca and Epaminondas in the Strait of Hormuz, according to Iranian state TV on April 22, 2026. (IRIB/Handout/Reuters)

That vessel, the Touska, remains in U.S. custody as American forces continue inspecting what maritime security sources told Reuters is likely “dual-use” cargo — materials that can serve both civilian and military purposes — following a voyage from Asia. 

The U.S. military is also continuing to enforce a blockade of Iranian ports on Thursday.

The Epaminondas container ship is seen in Naples, Italy, on March 12, 2025. (Giovanni Costigliola/Reuters)

So far, U.S. forces have redirected 33 vessels since the start of the blockade against Iran, U.S. Central Command said Thursday.