Iran escalates Hormuz 'tit-for-tat,' seizes ship tied to billionaire close to Trump, Macron

Tensions escalated successful the Strait of Hormuz connected April 22 aft Iran’s IRGC seized 2 vessels successful what analysts picture arsenic "tit-for-tat" retaliation against the U.S., with 1 vessel linked to a billionaire shipping household tied to Presidents Donald Trump and Emmanuel Macron.

Video aired connected Iran authorities TV purportedly shows IRGC soldiers seizing the instrumentality ships successful the Strait, Reuters said Thursday.

One vessel, the MSC Francesca, is owned by MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company, founded by Italian billionaire Gianluigi Aponte and present controlled by his 2 children, Fox News Digital has learned.

"Some 20 Iranians equipped to the teeth stormed the ship. Sailors are nether Iranian control, their movements connected the vessel are limited, but the Iranians are treating them well," a comparative of 1 of the MSC Francesca seafarers told Reuters.

TRUMP'S SPECIAL ENVOY WITKOFF AND KUSHNER VISIT US AIRCRAFT CARRIER AMID IRAN TENSIONS, TALKS

Soldiers instrumentality portion successful the seizure of the instrumentality ships MSC Francesca and Epaminondas successful the Strait of Hormuz, according to footage broadcast connected Iranian authorities TV and released connected April 22, 2026. (IRIB/Handout/Reuters)

"The vessel is anchored 9 nautical miles from the Iranian coast. Negotiations betwixt MSC and Iran are ongoing, our sailors are fine," Montenegro's curate of maritime affairs, Filip Radulovic, told authorities broadcaster RTCG.

Maritime quality steadfast Windward AI pointed to IRGC "tit-for-tat" tactics fixed the caller MSC vas seizure.

This followed a U.S. naval blockade imposed connected April 13, with Tehran informing of retaliation aft U.S. forces besides seized an Iranian vessel.

"The IRGC attacked 3 ships. It besides captured and took successful 2 of them—the MSC Francesca and the Epaminondas—while the Euphoria managed to get away," Windward AI co-founder Ami Daniel told Fox News Digital.

IRAN FIRES LIVE MISSILES INTO STRAIT OF HORMUZ AS TRUMP ENVOYS ARRIVE FOR NUCLEAR TALKS

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

"This is simply a ‘tit-for-tat’ workout by the IRGC, which, on with the Houthis, has agelong claimed MSC is connected to Israel.

"Aponte, proprietor and chairman, has a Jewish wife, and MSC calls successful Israel; however, truthful bash each large liners," helium added.

Diego Aponte, Gianluigi’s son, had been making "inroads with Trump’s circle," Bloomberg reported April 13.

He besides helped put a November 2025 White House gathering with Swiss concern leaders that led to a preliminary woody to trim the 39% tariffs imposed connected Switzerland implicit the summer.

BLOCKADE 101: AMERICAN SEA POWER ON DISPLAY AS TRUMP CORNERS IRAN AND WARNS OFF CHINA

The MSC enforcement president has been photographed with French President Emmanuel Macron. (REUTERS / Stephane Mahe)

Over the past year, MSC’s narration with the White House besides positioned begetter Gianluigi Aponte arsenic a cardinal subordinate successful a $19 cardinal woody with Li Ka-shing, arsenic MSC and BlackRock moved to get 2 Panama Canal ports nether unit from Trump to spot them successful "friendly" hands, according to the outlet.

With a nett worthy of astatine slightest $37 billion, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, it is Gianluigi Aponte and his wife, Rafaela Aponte-Diamant, who look to mingle with satellite leaders.

The MSC enforcement president and Rafaela person been photographed with French President Emmanuel Macron.

GULF SHIPPING OPERATIONS GRIND TO HALT NEAR IRAN, US QUIETLY PREPARES FOR POSSIBLE STRIKE: 'HEIGHTENED RISK'

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

Rafaela is besides reportedly related to Alexis Kohler (his parent is said to beryllium her cousin), who served arsenic Macron’s secretary-general from May 2017 to April 14, 2025, and was described arsenic "Macron’s 2nd brain."

Meanwhile, the Aponte family’s vessel, carrying astir 40 unit members, was taken toward Iran’s larboard of Bandar Abbas by the Iranian navy, sources told Reuters Thursday.

Four unit members, including the captain, are from Montenegro, officials said, portion Croatia’s overseas ministry confirmed 2 Croatian nationals are besides aboard; MSC declined to comment, Reuters confirmed.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

The IRGC Navy claimed that some vessels captured "were operating without the indispensable permits."

According to Lloyd’s List, the 2008-built MSC Francesca "normally operates successful work betwixt the U.S. West Coast, Asia and the Middle East Gulf."