Masked and Moving Boldly Onto the Deck: Iran Releases Video of Ship Seizure in the Strait of Hormuz

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[The Financial News] As the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said it had seized two container ships in the Strait of Hormuz, a video has been released showing armed men approaching and taking control of the vessels.
According to ABC News on the 23rd local time, Iranian state broadcaster released footage showing speedboats flying the Iranian flag approaching two container ships, followed by masked armed soldiers seizing the vessels.
The released video shows masked and armed Iranian troops approaching the ships by speedboat and then climbing a ladder to board the deck.
In a statement the same day, the IRGC said, "We seized two ships in the Strait of Hormuz and moved them into our territorial waters," adding that "the vessels were the Panama-flagged MSC Francesca and the Republic of Liberia-flagged Epaminondas."
It also claimed that the ships were operating "without the necessary permits and had manipulated their navigation systems."
The IRGC reportedly said it plans to inspect the cargo and related documents of the vessels and will continue to monitor and respond to any violations of transit rules in the Strait of Hormuz.
The seizure came shortly after U.S. President Donald John Trump announced an extension ahead of the end of a two-week ceasefire with Iran.
As the second round of U.S.-Iran peace talks collapsed, Iran has reportedly stepped up its response in the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz, in defiance of Washington's maritime blockade policy against Tehran.
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sms@fnnews.com Seong Min-seo Reporter