Iran's Revolutionary Guards Seizes Vessel Suspected of U.S. Military Cooperation

Gate News message, April 24 — Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps announced on the night of April 24 that it has seized a vessel suspected of cooperating with the U.S. military after the ship violated regulations and ignored Iranian warnings. According to the Revolutionary Guard Navy’s intelligence monitoring over the past six months, the vessel made multiple trips to and from U.S. ports and was seized for disregarding warnings and repeatedly violating maritime regulations.

On April 22, the Revolutionary Guard announced the seizure of two container ships attempting to pass through the Strait of Hormuz without authorization. One vessel, MSC Francesca, is believed by Iran to be linked to the Israeli government; the other, EPAMINODAS, was seized for lacking required permits, repeated violations, and posing risks to maritime safety. Both ships have been seized by the Revolutionary Guard Navy and transferred to Iranian territorial waters.

The United States has not yet responded to the seizures.