Tensions in the Gulf have escalated sharply after the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps reportedly seized two commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz following earlier reports of gunfire in the same waters.
The ships — identified as the MSC vessels Francesca and Epaminondas — were taken into Iranian custody and redirected towards the country’s coast, according to Iranian state-linked reports.
The IRGC Navy said the action was taken after what it described as “disrupting order and safety in the Strait of Hormuz,” which it called a “red line” for Iran.
The seizures mark a significant escalation in maritime tensions in one of the world’s most strategically important shipping routes, through which a large proportion of global oil supplies pass.
The developments follow separate reports earlier on Wednesday of multiple vessels coming under fire in the region, further heightening concerns over shipping security.
In a further escalation of rhetoric, an Iranian security official warned that any US seizure of Iranian vessels would carry consequences, describing it as a “big gamble” that could legitimise retaliation.
Speaking to Al Jazeera, the official claimed: “Starting today, all US-owned ships will be legitimate targets of Iran’s asymmetric operations.”
The warning significantly raises the stakes for international shipping operators and adds to fears of wider disruption in global energy and trade routes if tensions continue to intensify.
The Strait of Hormuz has long been considered a critical chokepoint for global energy flows, and any sustained instability in the area is likely to have immediate implications for oil markets and shipping insurance costs worldwide.
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