Iran says it seized 2 ships in Strait of Hormuz, hours after Trump's ceasefire extension

Source: Washington Post

Updated April 22, 2026 at 7:27 a.m. EDT


ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — Iranian forces seized two container ships in the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday, according to Iranian state media, just hours after President Donald Trump initially calmed fears of renewed violence by extending his ceasefire with Iran indefinitely.

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy said it seized the MSC-Francesca and the Epaminondas and moved them to the Iranian coastline, according to a statement published on state media. “Disruption of order and safety in the Strait of Hormuz is our red line,” the IRGC said. It accused the ships of operating without the necessary permits and tampering with navigation systems.

The ships had earlier Wednesday reported coming under attack, one from an IRGC gunboat that fired on it and “caused heavy damage to the bridge,” about 15 nautical miles northeast of Oman. The second reported an attack eight nautical miles off Iran’s coast, but did not identify the attackers. Both incidents were reported by the U.K. Maritime Trade Operations Center (UKMTO), a monitoring agency that is part of the British Royal Navy, without identifying the ships.

The seizures came after the United States began apprehending ships linked to Iran in the area over the weekend. Touska, an Iranian-flagged cargo ship, was taken by U.S. forces as it moved west through the Arabian Sea, seemingly headed for Iran. And on Tuesday in the Indian Ocean, U.S. forces seized a tanker ship suspected of smuggling oil and escorted at least one other vessel off India’s western coast.

Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2026/04/22/hormuz-strait-us-iran-talks-war/