A new wave of tension in the Persian Gulf. In the early hours of Wednesday 22nd April, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) navy intercepted and took control of two cargo ships operated by the Italian-Swiss shipping giant Mediterranean Shipping Co (MSC) while they were crossing the Strait of Hormuz.
The 11,312 TEU MSC Francesca, flying the Panamanian flag) and the 6,690 TEU MSC Epaminondas flying the Liberian flag), the latter owned by the Greek company Technomar Shipping and chartered to MSC were the vessels involved.
According to reports from the Vanguard security firm and the UKMTO (United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations), the operation was carried out in an extremely aggressive manner.
A Pasdaran patrol boat is reported to have opened fire on the Epaminondas without prior radio warning, causing serious damage to the bridge. Security sources have confirmed that at least one of the vessels was boarded.
Satellite data and the AIS system show that both vessels are now adrift approximately seven nautical miles off the Iranian coast, in the Bandar Abbas area.
Through the semi-official Tasnim news agency, Iran justified its actions on the grounds of violations of maritime regulations. Tehran claims that the vessels were operating without the necessary authorisations and had tampered with their navigation systems to conceal their course, describing the security of the Strait as a red line that must not be crossed.
The incident comes at a critical time. While the US administration, led by Donald Trump, has announced a unilateral extension of the ceasefire to facilitate the peace talks mediated by Pakistan, Iran appears to be responding with a show of force to reaffirm its control over the world’s most strategic waterway.
Translation by Giles Foster
