Tensions in the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz escalated sharply on Tuesday after two vessels were reportedly seized by Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)  and transferred to Iranian waters.

"One ship, named MSC-FRANCESCA, which is said to be linked to the Zionist regime, and another EPAMINODES, were seized while attempting to secretly exit the Strait of Hormuz without a permit," said IRGC in a statement published by IRNA.

According to the statement, both vessels were found in repeated breaches, tampering with navigational protocols, and jeopardizing maritime security.

It said the naval forces stopped them in line with Iran's rights in the Strait of Hormuz and were transferred to the country's territorial waters to examine their cargo and documents.

The IRGC Navy has reiterated that any action to disrupt Iran’s declared protocols for navigation through the Strait of Hormuz and activities contrary to the safe passage through this strategic waterway will be dealt with decisively and legally, it said.

A third vessel, a Greek-owned ship, was also reportedly targeted by the IRGC and is “now disabled off Iran’s coast,” according to Iranian media.

This came came after the UK Maritime Traffic Organization (UKMTO) said at least two container ships were hit by gunfire in the Strait of Hormuz.

There has been no independent confirmation of the seizures.

The UKMTO said it had received a report of an incident about 8 nautical miles west of Iran, where the master of an outbound cargo vessel reported being fired upon. The ship has since halted in the water, though all crew members are safe and no damage has been reported.

In a separate incident, a container vessel approximately 15 nautical miles northeast of Oman was approached by an armed gunboat linked to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). The vessel was fired upon without prior radio contact, causing heavy damage to its bridge. 

Despite the attack, no injuries, fires or environmental damage were reported, and all crew were accounted for.

UKMTO warned of “high levels of activity” in the area and urged ships transiting the waterway to exercise caution and report any suspicious movements.

In response to the growing risks, military planners from more than 30 countries are convening at the Permanent Joint Headquarters in Northwood, United Kingdom, for a two-day conference beginning April 22. The meeting, led jointly by the UK and France, aims to develop a coordinated multinational plan to reopen and secure the waterway.

The talks build on momentum from a recent summit in Paris, where global leaders called for the immediate reopening of the Strait and endorsed the creation of a defensive multinational mission focused on protecting shipping lanes and conducting mine clearance operations.

UK Defence Secretary John Healey said the discussions are intended to translate diplomatic consensus into actionable military planning, with a focus on safeguarding navigation and reinforcing a lasting ceasefire.

Deliberations are expected to cover military capabilities, command structures and deployment strategies, underscoring the urgency of restoring maritime security in a region critical to global energy supplies and trade flows.