Which ships did Iran seize in the Strait of Hormuz on 23 April 2026?

Iran's IRGC seized three vessels: the Greek-owned bulk carrier Euphoria, stranded on Iran's shore; the container ship MSC Francesca; and a cargo carrier identified as the Epaminondas. All three were described by Iran as "violating ships" operating inside Iranian-designated exclusion zones.

Why does Iran say it has the right to seize commercial ships?

Iran's government argues the US naval blockade of its ports — maintained even during the ceasefire — is an act of war, and that seizing vessels cooperating with the blockade is a legitimate countermeasure under international law. Iran's foreign ministry has described the blockade as incompatible with any genuine truce.

How does Strait of Hormuz disruption affect global oil prices?

Roughly 21 million barrels of oil per day transit the Strait — about 20% of global seaborne trade. Each sustained disruption pushes Lloyd's war-risk premiums and freight rates higher, costs that flow through to refined fuel and energy prices. The Baltic Exchange Dry Index fell 2.1% on 23 April after the seizures were confirmed.

What is Greece doing in response to the Euphoria seizure?

Greece summoned Iran's chargé d'affaires in Athens on 23 April and is coordinating with EU partners on a joint complaint to the UN Security Council, where an emergency session is scheduled for 24 April. Athens has also requested that the EU's European Naval Force increase monitoring of the Strait.

Iran Seizes Ships in Strait of Hormuz

Iran's IRGC seized the Greek-owned Euphoria and two other vessels in the Strait of Hormuz on 23 April 2026, hours after Trump's ceasefire extension kept the naval blockade in place.

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps seized three foreign-flagged commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz on 23 April 2026, including the Greek-owned bulk carrier Euphoria, which is now stranded on Iran's shore, hours after President Donald Trump extended the US-Iran ceasefire with no fixed end date.

Fars, Iran's semiofficial news agency, identified the two other vessels as the container ship MSC Francesca and a cargo carrier named the Epaminondas. The IRGC described all three as "violating ships" — a designation applied to commercial vessels that continue operating in Iranian-designated exclusion zones while the US naval blockade of Iran's ports remains in force. Greece's foreign ministry in Athens summoned Iran's chargé d'affaires and demanded the immediate release of the Euphoria and its crew.

Iran has maintained since 8 April that the US naval blockade constitutes an act of war that effectively nullifies any ceasefire. The IRGC's maritime branch has enforced a de facto countermeasure policy since that date, detaining vessels it claims are cooperating with what Tehran describes as an illegal economic siege. The seizures on 23 April are the first confirmed boarding actions of multiple commercial ships in a single day since the ceasefire began, and they came within 90 minutes of Trump posting his extension announcement on Truth Social.

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Iran Seizes Ships in Strait of Hormuz

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Iran Seizes Ships in Strait of Hormuz

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