The Iranian government has released footage reportedly documenting the seizure of a commercial container ship in the Strait of Hormuz.Video shared by state-affiliated media Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting showed armed members of the Iranian military, wearing masks, scaling the hull of the cargo ship to gain control of the deck. The increase comes after claims by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) that their forces “captured two ships in the strait on Wednesday”.Following the boarding operation, the military wing confirmed that the situation was under their control, noting that “both ships were directed towards the Iranian coast”.Meanwhile, in terms of ship seizures, Panama, in a sharp diplomatic response, has strongly condemned the seizure of the “MSC Francesca”, and described the capture of a ship sailing under its flag as “illegal”. Panama’s Foreign Ministry clarified that although the ship is Italian-owned, it is registered under the Panamanian flag.“The ship was passing through the Strait of Hormuz when it was seized and forcibly taken into Iranian waters,” the ministry said. Officials further warned that Tehran’s actions pose a “serious threat to maritime security” and termed the incident an “unnecessary escalation” at a time when the international community wants to keep the waterway open without “any form of intimidation or blackmail.”Describing the operation, the IRGC identified the detained ships as “MSC-Francesca” and “Epaminodes”. In a statement reported by Iranian state media, Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB), the military wing alleged that the ships were involved in the violation while transiting the strategic waterway.The IRGC accused the crew of “tampering with navigational aid systems and endangering maritime safety”. The statement quoted by IRIB claimed that “MSC-Francesca” belonged to the “Zionist regime” and alleged that both ships were attempting to “secretly exit the Strait of Hormuz without permission”.The naval confrontation came just hours after US President Donald Trump announced an indefinite extension of the temporary ceasefire. In an interview with CNBC, Trump issued a direct appeal for a diplomatic breakthrough, suggesting Iran could secure a prosperous future through a new deal.Noting the possibility of a complete change in Tehran’s circumstances, the President commented, “If Iran makes a deal it could put itself in a very good position.” Despite maintaining the naval blockade, Trump urged the Iranian government to adopt a pragmatic strategy, saying, “They have to use logic and they have to use common sense, and they can put themselves in a great position to be a great country.”“However, this proposal has been met with skepticism in Tehran. Iranian President Massoud Pezeshkian criticized the United States for what he called “hypocritical” and contradictory behavior.In a post on X, Pezeshkian wrote, “The Islamic Republic of Iran has always welcomed and will continue to welcome dialogue and agreement. Bad faith, siege and threats are the main obstacles to genuine dialogue.” He further accused Washington of contradiction between his claims and his actions.While the New York Post reported that Trump considers a new round of talks “possible” within 36 to 72 hours, the path forward remains unclear. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baqaei said Tehran has not yet reached a final decision on whether to participate in the upcoming round of mediation discussions.
