Ships seized by Iranians 'armed to the teeth' along Strait of Hormuz have been taken toward port: report

The 2 instrumentality ships seized by Iranian forces in nan Strait of Hormuz person been taken toward nan larboard of Bandar Abbas on nan cardinal waterway, a study said Thursday. 

Iran’s Revolutionary Guard claimed connected Wednesday that nan vessels, identified arsenic nan MSC Francesca and nan Epaminondas, were operating without due authorization and had tampered pinch navigation systems, accusations that could not beryllium independently verified.   

"Some 20 Iranians equipped to nan teeth stormed nan ship. Sailors are nether Iranians' control, their ⁠movements connected nan vessel are limited, but nan Iranians are treating them well," a comparative of a captive onboard 1 of nan ships told Reuters connected Thursday successful narration to 1 of nan seizures. 

The news outlet cited sources arsenic saying that some ships — which are managed by Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) — were taken toward Bandar Abbas pinch a mixed 40 unit onboard.

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The Panama-flagged MSC Francesca alloy is docked successful Long Beach, Calif., connected April 16, 2025. (Efrain Morales/Reuters)

"The vessel is anchored 9 nautical miles from nan Iranian coast. Negotiations betwixt MSC and Iran are ongoing, our sailors are fine," Filip Radulovic, Montenegro's curate of maritime affairs, was quoted by Reuters arsenic telling authorities tv there. 

Before their seizure connected Wednesday, nan ships reported coming nether occurrence adjacent nan strait, underscoring nan progressively volatile conditions successful 1 of nan world’s astir captious shipping lanes. 

The business is unfolding aft U.S. forces precocious seized an Iranian-flagged cargo vessel successful nan Gulf of Oman arsenic it was approaching Iranian waters Sunday.

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Soldiers return portion successful nan cognition seizing instrumentality ships MSC Francesca and Epaminondas successful nan Strait of Hormuz, according to Iranian authorities TV connected April 22, 2026. (IRIB/Handout/Reuters)

That vessel, nan Touska, remains successful U.S. custody arsenic American forces proceed inspecting what maritime information sources told Reuters is apt "dual-use" cargo — materials that tin service some civilian and subject purposes — pursuing a voyage from Asia. 

The U.S. subject is besides continuing to enforce a blockade of Iranian ports connected Thursday.

The Epaminondas instrumentality vessel is seen successful Naples, Italy, connected March 12, 2025. (Giovanni Costigliola/Reuters)

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So far, U.S. forces person redirected 33 vessels since nan commencement of nan blockade against Iran, U.S. Central Command said Thursday.

Fox News Digital’s Morgan Phillips contributed to this report.