Iran has seized two ships in the Strait of Hormuz following gunfire attacks on ships earlier on Wednesday. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy seized two MSC container vessels - Francesca and Epaminondas. It said the ships were transferred to Iran's coast after "disrupting order and safety in the Strait of Hormuz is considered a red line for Iran".
This comes after an Iranian security official warned that the US seizure of the country's ships would be a "big gamble" that would make American ships legitimate targets for retaliation. He told Al Jazeera: "Starting today, all US-owned ships will be legitimate targets of Iran's asymmetric operations."
The first attack involved the Greek-flagged Epaminodas, 15 nautical miles northeast of Oman. An IRGC "gun boat" opened fire on the ship, causing heavy damage to the vessel's bridge, the UK UK Maritime Trade Operations Centre (UKMTO) reported.
The second targeted the Panama-flagged Euphoria, which was attacked eight nautical miles west of Iran, the UKMTO said. The crew are safe and accounted for, and no damage has been reported to the ship, which is owned by a UAE-based company.
Finally, the Panama-flagged MSC Francesca was hit roughly six nautical miles off Iran while heading into the Gulf of Oman, Vanguard told the BBC. It sustained "damage to the hull and accommodation".
A third ship has been attacked this morning by the IRGC, Fars news agency reports. The Greek-owned Euphoria is now stranded on Iran’s shores, according to a Telegram post.
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Iran has seized two vessels and transferred them to its coast for "disrupting order and safety in the Strait of Hormuz is considered a red line for Iran".
The IRGC Navy Command said the Francesca and the Epaminodas "had endangered maritime security by operating without the required authorisation and by tampering with navigation systems".
Good morning and welcome to our coverage of the situation in the Strait of Hormuz after Iran seized two vessels. Stay tuned for all the latest updates.
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