The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) seized two container ships attempting to leave the Gulf via the Strait of Hormuz on April 22, 2026, escalating tensions in one of the world's most critical maritime chokepoints . Iran seizes container ships Strait of Hormuz in a dramatic operation involving armed speedboats and rope ladders, with Iranian state television broadcasting footage of masked soldiers boarding the vessels . The seizures mark Tehran's first such action since the US and Israel launched their joint offensive on Iran in February 2026 . Why Did Iran Seize Container Ships in the Strait of Hormuz? Iran's IRGC claimed the two vessels—the Panama-flagged MSC Francesca and the Liberia-flagged Epaminondas—were "operating without proper authorization" and had "tampered with their navigation systems" . Tehran has insisted that vessels must seek permission to leave or enter the Gulf through the strait, a demand Washington rejects . Parliame...