Screenshot from a video published by Iranian media
The Iranian government has released a video purporting to document the seizure of a commercial container ship in the Strait of Hormuz.The video, published by the state-run Islamic Republic of Iran Radio, shows armed members of the Iranian military, wearing balaclavas, climbing the hull of the cargo ship to take control of the ship’s deck.
This escalation comes in the wake of allegations by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard that its forces “captured two ships in the strait on Wednesday.”
Following the boarding operations, the military wing confirmed that the situation remained under its control, noting that “the two ships headed toward the Iranian coast.”In the context of the seizure of ships, Panama, in a sharp diplomatic response, strongly condemned the seizure of the ship “MSC Francesca,” and described the seizure of a ship sailing under its flag as “illegal.”
The Panamanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs explained that although the ship is owned by Italy, it is registered under the Panamanian flag.The ministry stated, “The ship was crossing the Strait of Hormuz when it was seized and forcibly transferred to Iranian territorial waters.” Officials also warned that Tehran’s actions pose a “serious threat to maritime security” and described the incident as an “unnecessary escalation” at a time when the international community seeks to keep the waterway open without “threats or blackmail of any kind.”
In the details of the operation, the Iranian Revolutionary Guard identified the two seized ships as “MSC-FRANCESCA” and “EPAMINODES.” In a statement carried by Iran’s state media, the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB), the military wing claimed that the ships had been involved in violations while crossing the strategic waterway.The Iranian Revolutionary Guard accused its crews of “tampering with navigational assistance systems and endangering maritime security.”
The statement, as reported by the Iranian Broadcasting Corporation, claimed that the “MSC-FRANCESCA” belonged to the “Zionist regime” and claimed that the two ships were trying to “secretly exit the Strait of Hormuz without a permit.”This naval confrontation emerged just hours after US President Donald Trump announced the extension of the temporary ceasefire indefinitely. In an interview with CNBC, Trump issued a direct appeal for a diplomatic breakthrough, indicating that Iran could secure a prosperous future through a new agreement.“Iran could put itself on a very good footing if it reaches an agreement,” the president noted, noting the possibility of a complete shift in Tehran’s circumstances. Despite maintaining the naval blockade, Trump urged the Iranian government to adopt a practical strategy, adding: “They’ve got to use reason, they’ve got to use common sense, and they can put themselves in a great position to turn themselves into a great country.
“However, this gesture was met with skepticism in Tehran. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian criticized the United States for what he described as its “hypocritical” and contradictory behavior.In a post on X, Pezeshkian wrote: “The Islamic Republic of Iran has always welcomed and continues to welcome dialogue and agreement. Bad faith, blockades and threats are the main obstacles to real negotiations.” He also accused Washington of a contradiction between its claims and its actions.While the New York Post reported that Trump sees a new round of talks as “possible” within 36 to 72 hours, the path forward remains cloudy. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Ismail Baghaei said that Tehran has not yet reached a final decision regarding participation in the next round of mediation talks.