Panama has strongly condemned the seizure of one of its ships by Iran in the Strait of Hormuz. The country’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement that the Italian-owned MSC Francesca, which was flying the Panamanian flag, was seized by Iran while passing through the Strait of Hormuz and forcibly taken into its territorial waters.
Iran’s IRGC seized two ships in the Strait of Hormuz last Wednesday (April 22). Photo: Collected
Iran’s IRGC seized two ships in the Strait of Hormuz last Wednesday (April 22). Photo: Collected
International Desk
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The ministry also said Iran’s move “poses a serious threat to maritime security” and “creates unnecessary tension” at a time when the international community wants the Strait of Hormuz to remain open to international shipping without any threats or pressure.
Meanwhile, Greek Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis said a Greek-owned cargo ship had been attacked near the Strait of Hormuz, but added that it was “unclear” whether the ship had been seized by Iranian forces.
“It was a Liberian-flagged, Greek-owned ship and it was trying to exit the Strait of Hormuz,” Gerapetritis told CNN on Wednesday, adding, “We have issued a general notice to all Greek-owned ships to be extremely cautious, to exercise maximum restraint and to refrain from transiting the strait.”
Earlier, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) announced that three ships had been attacked in the Strait of Hormuz, including the Greek-flagged Epaminondas, which suffered ‘serious damage’.
Read more: Three cargo ships shot at in Hormuz, two seized
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said in a statement that it had seized two ships, the MSC Francesca and the Epaminondas, the first of which is owned by the Israeli government.
The statement said, “The two ships were operating without authorization, repeatedly violating regulations, interfering with navigational aids, and endangering maritime safety by attempting to secretly exit the strait.”
According to the statement, “For this reason, the ships were identified and stopped in order to uphold the rights of the great Iranian nation in the Strait of Hormuz, based on the intelligence capabilities of the force, and were transferred to Iranian territorial waters “for inspection of their cargo, documents and records.”
Read more: Extending ceasefire ‘a strategy to buy time for a surprise attack’: Iran
The IRGC Navy warned that any attempt to obstruct the implementation of the law announced by Iran for passage through the Strait of Hormuz or any activity contrary to the safe passage of this strategic waterway will be continuously monitored and strict and legal measures will be taken against violators.
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