Iran Refuses to Reopen Strait of Hormuz, Seizes Two Vessels Amid Rising Tensions

Iranian forces have seized two ships in the Strait of Hormuz amid escalating tensions over the critical waterway, which remains largely closed to commercial traffic despite a U.S.-brokered ceasefire extension.

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) intercepted the vessels as they attempted to transit the strait without authorization, according to Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency. The ships were identified as the Panama-flagged MSC Francesca and the Liberia-flagged Epaminondas, the latter of which is Greek-operated. Greece’s foreign minister confirmed an incident involving a Greek-owned cargo ship in the area.

Iranian officials maintain that the strait cannot be reopened while the United States maintains its naval blockade of Iranian ports, and vessels. Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, speaker of the Iranian parliament and lead nuclear negotiator, stated that reopening the Strait of Hormuz would be “impossible” as long as the U.S. And Israel continue what he described as “flagrant” violations of the ceasefire, including the U.S. Naval blockade, which he characterized as “the hostage-taking of the world’s economy.”

The U.S. Has continued to enforce its blockade despite President Donald Trump’s decision to extend the ceasefire with Iran indefinitely, saying he wanted to give Tehran’s leaders time to “come up with a unified proposal” in ongoing peace negotiations. Trump had previously indicated he would not extend the truce, which was set to expire on the day of the ship seizures.

Maritime tracking data shows that ship traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remains significantly below pre-conflict levels. While a dozen commercial vessels made the transit on Monday, only about eight ships, including three oil tankers, passed through on Wednesday. Normally, more than 100 ships traverse the strait daily under peacetime conditions, carrying approximately 20% of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas.

Despite the restrictions, some vessels have appeared to circumvent the barriers. The Iranian tanker Atlantis II was observed crossing into the Gulf of Oman, and a very large crude carrier named Virgo entered the Persian Gulf, though its final destination remained unclear. The Virgo has a capacity of up to 2 million barrels of oil.

IRGC naval forces said they stopped the two ships attempting to exit the strait covertly and brought them to shore. The agency accused the vessels of violating maritime protocols by attempting to transit without proper authorization, a claim Iran has used to justify its interdiction efforts in the contested waterway.

The developments have cast doubt on the viability of revived diplomatic efforts between Washington and Tehran. While the ceasefire remains in place on paper, competing blockades and intermittent violence have raised concerns about whether meaningful negotiations can proceed under current conditions.

As of Wednesday, April 22, 2026, the Strait of Hormuz remains a focal point of geopolitical tension, with both the United States and Iran maintaining opposing positions on access to the vital maritime corridor.