Three ships attacked and two seized in Strait of Hormuz as Iran warns Donald Trump ceasefire means 'nothing'

Oliver Partridge
Wed, 22 Apr 2026 10:06:04 +0000

Three cargo ships have been targeted, and two seized, during passage through the Strait of Hormuz, as Iran issued the US a stark warning that the agreed ceasefire means "nothing".

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps intercepted the third ship, Panama-flagged vessel MSC Francesca, approximately six nautical miles from Iranian waters as it sailed southward towards the Gulf of Oman.

The IRGC contacted the vessel and "instructed to drop anchor", according to maritime intelligence company Vanguard

Crew members have since reported sustaining "damage to the hull and accommodation", though additional details remain unavailable at this time.

TRENDING

Stories

Videos

Your Say

These attacks follow President Donald Trump's announcement that he would extend the ceasefire between the United States and Iran.

The UK Maritime Trade Operations has confirmed that the IRGC opened fire on the first vessel, with reports indicating Iran the IRGC also hit the other two ships.

The two other ships reportedly targeted include a Liberia-flagged vessel Epaminondas, and Greek-owned vessel Euphoria, now stranded in the coast of Hormozgan Province.

UK Maritime Trade Operations confirmed crews aboard the vessels were safe and accounted for.

Following the stoppage, two of the three container vessels, Francesca and Epaminondas, were seized in Strait of Hormuz and transported to the Iranian coast.

The IRGC Navy Command wrote: "Two offending vessels had endangered maritime security by operating without the required permits and tampering with navigation systems, and were seized by the IRGC Navy and escorted to the Iranian coast."

LATEST DEVELOPMENTS

UK inflation rises to 3.3% as Iran war takes toll on British economy

Donald Trump opens door to 'blowing up the rest of Iran' just hours after extending ceasefire

Fears Labour's SAS 'witch-hunts' could leave UK-US 'special relationship' in tatters

Nour News, affiliated with Iran's Supreme National Security Council, disputes an account given by the master of the ship to the UKMTO that no radio warning was given to the vessel.

Instead, it says the ship had "ignored warnings" from the Iranian armed forces.

Washington continues to enforce its naval blockade of the strategic waterway, a measure intended to exert pressure on Tehran ahead of planned diplomatic discussions in Pakistan.

The American president made his ceasefire extension announcement, whilst simultaneously maintaining the blockade, which restricts Iranian access to one of the world's most vital shipping lanes.

Significant doubt now surrounds the scheduled negotiations between the two nations.

Vice-President JD Vance failed to depart for Pakistan on Tuesday as had been anticipated, whilst Tehran has offered no formal reaction to the American president's statements.

An adviser to Iran's parliamentary speaker dismissed the gesture entirely, stating that the ceasefire extension "means nothing" and characterising it as "a ploy to buy time for a surprise strike".