Iran’s IRGC says it has seized two vessels for “disrupting order and safety in the Strait of Hormuz”,
The IRGC later released an official statement saying two ships were linked to what it called “the enemies”. According to the statement, the vessels were the MSC Francesca and Epaminondas, which it accused of endangering maritime safety by operating without the necessary permits and tampering with its navigation system.
There are two clear messages the IRGC naval forces are trying to send out. First, they are trying to demonstrate that the Strait of Hormuz is under their control and authority. They have previously stated that transits through this vital chokepoint must be approved by them, and they have announced a new pathway for vessels close to the Iranian coastline.
The second message is related to the broader context. The Americans are imposing a blockade on Iranian ships, and this is a retaliatory strategy. Iran is saying the strait will remain closed for as long as the blockade continues to impact Iranian vessels. A number of Iranian-affiliated ships have already been attacked or approached by the US military.
(Aljazeera)