Iranian media reported on April 25 that the seized vessel was Epaminondas, a container ship sailing under the Liberian flag and bound for Mundra in Gujarat. Press TV, citing an IRGC statement, said the vessel’s last recorded position was near Larak Island east of the Strait of Hormuz and claimed it had made 36 stops at 11 U.S. ports between October 2024 and January 2026, unloading around 299,000 tons of cargo. The seizure is part of Iran’s broader action against two commercial ships detained near Hormuz on April 22. The IRGC said Epaminondas and MSC Francesca were taken into Iranian territorial waters for inspection after repeated violations, including alleged interference with navigation systems and operating without required permits.
