An India-bound vessel was among two ships seized by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps while transiting the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday, amid continued uncertainty over the US-Iran ceasefire and proposed peace talks. In total, three container ships were targeted by Iranian forces in the Strait. All three vessels had entered from the Persian Gulf, but ship-tracking data indicated that two of them did not transmit details regarding their location, destination, or port of origin while passing through the waterway.

Iranian state media and the BBC identified the ships as the Liberia-flagged Epaminondas and the Panama-flagged MSC Francesca and Euphoria. According to data from VesselFinder, Epaminondas had declared India as its destination and was the first to come under attack. The UK Maritime Trade Operations reported that a gunboat operated by the IRGC opened fire on Epaminondas about 15 nautical miles northeast of Oman, causing significant damage to the vessel’s bridge.

The second ship, Euphoria, which had departed from Sharjah in the UAE and was en route to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, was also attacked. Maritime intelligence firm Vanguard reported that the vessel was targeted approximately eight nautical miles west of Iran. The ship was brought to a halt by its captain, but no damage was reported and all crew members were safe. MSC Francesca was the third vessel to be attacked by the IRGC Navy. Its destination remains unclear.

The IRGC Navy said Epaminondas and MSC Francesca had been seized and were being escorted to the Iranian coast. It accused the vessels of endangering maritime security by operating without required permits and tampering with navigation systems, adding that maintaining order in the Strait of Hormuz is a “red line.”

The incidents came hours after Donald Trump extended the ceasefire with Iran until peace negotiations conclude. However, uncertainty remains over the next round of talks, including whether they will be held in Islamabad. Iran has yet to confirm its participation, and reports indicate that Vice President JD Vance has postponed a planned visit to Pakistan. Over the past three days, US forces have seized one Iranian vessel in the Gulf of Oman and intercepted two others in the Indian Ocean region as part of efforts to enforce a blockade on Iranian maritime activity.

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