Iranian forces have directed two captured container vessels carrying roughly 40 sailors toward the port of Bandar Abbas, according to sources reporting Thursday, following Tehran’s promise to strike back after American military units seized an Iranian ship earlier this week.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps captured both vessels Wednesday near the Strait of Hormuz – one operated by MSC, the globe’s largest container shipping company, while the second was chartered by the same firm, three sources confirmed.
“Some 20 Iranians armed to the teeth stormed the ship. Sailors are under Iranians’ control, their movements on the ship are limited, but the Iranians are treating them well,” a family member of one crew member told Reuters.
Montenegro’s maritime affairs minister Filip Radulovic provided an update on his nation’s sailors, telling state broadcaster RTCG: “The ship is anchored nine nautical miles from the Iranian coast. Negotiations between MSC and Iran are ongoing, our sailors are fine.”
Four crew members aboard the MSC Francesca, including the vessel’s captain, hold Montenegrin citizenship, Radulovic confirmed. Croatia’s foreign ministry verified that two Croatian nationals are also among the crew.
Complete crew information for the Panama-registered ship remains unavailable, though large container vessels typically operate with at least 20 personnel minimum. MSC has refused to provide statements.
The Liberian-flagged Epaminondas carries 21 crew members from Ukraine and the Philippines, Greek coast guard officials reported. The vessel had been traveling to India when captured.
While both crews were described as safe, government officials from their respective nations indicated they are gathering information about the sailors’ conditions and working toward securing their freedom.
No details have emerged regarding any cargo the vessels may have been transporting.
Both ships disabled their tracking transponder equipment, but maritime security experts said shipping data indicated their location near Bandar Abbas.
The Iranian vessel seizures followed the April 19 incident when U.S. military forces opened fire on and captured the Iran-flagged cargo ship Touska.
“The armed forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran will soon respond and retaliate against this armed piracy by the U.S. military,” an Iranian military spokesperson declared in response.
Iran’s foreign ministry has demanded immediate release of the Touska vessel, along with its crew and their families. Information about the ship’s personnel has not been disclosed.
Global oil markets have surged on concerns about potential disruption to the strait, a waterway that typically carries 20% of worldwide daily oil and liquefied natural gas shipments.
Benchmark Brent crude oil futures climbed 2% to $104 per barrel Thursday, compared to $72 before the conflict started February 28.
U.S. Central Command announced Wednesday that since beginning its blockade preventing ships from entering or leaving Iranian ports, American forces had ordered 31 vessels to reverse course or return to port.
