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 the Strait of Hormuz person been taken toward the larboard of Bandar Abbas on the cardinal waterway, a study said Thursday. 

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

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

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

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

"The vessel is anchored 9 nautical miles from the 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, the ships reported coming nether occurrence adjacent the strait, underscoring the progressively volatile conditions successful 1 of the world’s astir captious shipping lanes. 

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

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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)

That vessel, the 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 the commencement of the blockade against Iran, U.S. Central Command said Thursday.

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