Iran has released a video that allegedly shows armed special forces seizing two cargo ships in the Strait of Hormuz.
This propaganda footage was broadcast by state media on Wednesday, shortly after the government claimed to have taken control of the MSC Francesca, flagged in Panama, and the Epaminondas, flagged in Liberia, just hours following a ceasefire extension.
In the video, soldiers from the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps can be seen racing towards a container ship with the MSC logo, then climbing aboard.
The special forces, masked and armed, can be seen approaching the Epaminondas and reportedly entering what appears to be the engine room.
Once aboard, the soldiers moved to the top deck of the ship.
The Revolutionary Guards accused both vessels of operating without the proper permits and manipulating navigation systems.
As noted by Britain’s Maritime Trade Services, crew members on the Epaminondas reported that Iranian forces fired from a gunboat and threw grenades, damaging the bridge.
Officials from Technomar Shipping, the Greek-based company operating the ship, mentioned that it was carrying Iranian soldiers.
Additionally, the MSC Francesca was reportedly shelled about nine miles off Iran’s coast, with an intelligence source claiming the ship had been ordered to drop anchor, as per a BBC report.
Panama condemned the seizure, labeling it “illegal” and stating that it represented a “serious threat to maritime security,” particularly in light of ongoing Western efforts to ensure access to the Strait of Hormuz.
However, the US government maintained that Iran’s actions did not breach the ceasefire.
“These are not American ships. These are not Israeli ships. These were two international vessels,” stated White House press secretary Caroline Levitt during a Fox News interview.
She added, “And for the American media, which is unduly trumpeting the president’s fact that he completely decimated Iran’s conventional navy, these ships were taken by high-speed gunboats.” She further emphasized that while Iran once held a fearsome navy in the Middle East, its current actions resembled that of “a band of pirates.”
The seizure occurred three days after U.S. Marines took control of the Iranian-flagged Tuska, which had attempted to breach the Strait of Hormuz blockade.
Meanwhile, US military reports indicate that at least three Iranian oil tankers have been seized and redirected away from regions near India, Malaysia, and Sri Lanka.
On Tuesday, the ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran was extended, with President Trump noting potential progress regarding second-round peace discussions set for Islamabad, Pakistan.
While negotiations could potentially begin as early as Friday, Iran has yet to respond regarding continued talks.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian criticized the US blockade as a significant barrier to meaningful negotiations.
President Trump has urged Iran to present a “unified” proposal before moving forward with negotiations.
