New Delhi : A Gujarat-bound cargo ship was among two vessels attacked and seized by Iran’s Revolutionary Guards on Wednesday, hours after US President Donald Trump extended the two-week fragile ceasefire. The two ships – Panama-flagged MSC Francesca and Liberia-flagged Epaminodes – are now in IRGC custody and have been taken to Iran, Iranian state television reported. A third vessel – Greek-owned Euphoria – was also targeted and is now stranded along Iran’s shores.
Maritime traffic data shows Epaminondas was headed towards Mundra Port in Gujarat. It was coming from Dubai. The Iranian navy stated that the vessels did not have “required authorisation” and “manipulated navigation systems”, endangering maritime safety. Earlier, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said three merchant ships came under fire in Hormuz, which has effectively been under Iran’s control since the start of the war. Iran’s chokehold on the waterway has crippled oil supplies and sent crude prices soaring.
One of the ships suffered damage to its bridge (the central command centre) after being hit by gunfire and rocket-propelled grenades, Reuters reported. The crew, however, did not suffer any injuries. The development is likely a tit-for-tat move after the US Marines recently boarded and seized two Iranian-flagged cargo ships near the Gulf of Oman as part of its naval blockade. The US blockade of ships entering and exiting Iranian ports has become the latest bone of contention, with Tehran making its withdrawal a prerequisite for any peace talks.
Jag Arnav, an India-flagged bulk carrier, was travelling from Saudi Arabia to India. Sanmar Herald, meanwhile, was transporting oil from Iraq to India. In April, around 10 Indian vessels transited the corridor. The incident raised questions of who is calling the shots in Iran. Several reports have suggested that the powerful IRGC was pulling the strings and had sidelined the political leadership.
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