IRGC Still Holds 2 Seized Ships in Hormuz as Partial Reopening Leaves Dozens Waiting
Updated
Updated · BBC.com · Jul 2
IRGC Still Holds 2 Seized Ships in Hormuz as Partial Reopening Leaves Dozens Waiting
3 articles · Updated · BBC.com · Jul 2
Summary
Two container ships seized by Iran's IRGC in April — MSC Francesca and Epaminondas — remain held near Hormuz Island despite a ceasefire that has partially reopened the Strait of Hormuz.
Dozens of cargo vessels were still waiting offshore for Iranian permission to transit, showing Tehran has not fully restored passage through a waterway that carries about a fifth of global oil and gas shipments in peacetime.
Bandar Abbas has begun returning to normal, with fishermen back at sea and markets reopening after months in which IRGC fire on shipping and a US counter-blockade made the waters too dangerous to work.
261 people have been killed in Hormuzgan province during the war, according to the Red Crescent, while local officials say Iran would close the strait again if the fragile US-Iran ceasefire collapses.
Iran's hand remains on the world's oil tap. What happens if the 60-day peace negotiations fail to deliver on its demands?
With Israel not party to the truce, can the fragile US-Iran ceasefire survive a proxy war raging on in Lebanon?
After a devastating war, can Iran's new leadership navigate peace talks without appearing weak to hardliners at home?
The 2026 Strait of Hormuz Blockade: Seized Ships, Soaring Energy Prices, and a New Era of Maritime Risk
Overview
On April 22, 2026, Iran seized two commercial cargo ships in the Strait of Hormuz, escalating tensions in a region already on edge after an IRGC gunboat fired on a container ship near Oman, causing heavy damage. The international community responded with concern, and the Philippine government quickly worked to ensure the safety of its seafarers, most of whom had already moved to safe zones or left the area. Iran’s parliament speaker then linked any chance of a full ceasefire to the lifting of the U.S. Navy blockade, showing that Iran was using these maritime incidents as leverage in ongoing diplomatic negotiations.