Iran Fires On Third Ship In Hormuz Chokepoint, Says US Navy Blockade 'No Different Than Bombing'

Tyler Durden's Photo

by Tyler Durden

Wednesday, Apr 22, 2026 - 06:50 AM

Summary

IRGC seized the MSC Francesca and a Greek-owned ship named Euphoria, which had been attempting to transit the Hormuz chokepoint earlier today.

Within hours, a third ship comes under fire by the IRGC

Senior Iranian adviser says the US naval blockade is "no different than bombing" and must be met "with a military response".

Third Ship Attacked by IRGC

The IRGC on Wednesday attacked a third vessel of the day in the Strait of Hormuz, rapidly escalating tensions further in the dangerous standoff. The container ship Francesca, owned by Mediterranean Shipping, was targeted while waiting to enter.

"An Iranian gunboat fired on a containership northeast of Oman, before a second vessel reported being fired at off the coast of Iran," according to WSJ. "Then the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps fired on a third ship. The incidents within hours of each other demonstrate that while the aerial war between the U.S. and Iran is on pause, the fight for control of the strait continues." The same publication offers the following outline summary of where things stand on the diplomatic front:

A senior Iranian adviser said the U.S. naval blockade is “no different than bombing” and must be met “with a military response.”

Iran’s ambassador to the U.N. said his country is ready to negotiate with the U.S. once it ends the blockade.

Britain will host military planners from more than 30 countries for two days of talks aimed at reopening the Strait of Hormuz starting Wednesday.

Iran Seizes Two Ships In Hormuz

The semi-official news agency Fars reports on X that Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps seized the MSC Francesca and a Greek-owned ship named Euphoria, which had been attempting to transit the Hormuz chokepoint earlier today. In total, three ships were targeted this morning by IRGC naval forces, and two were seized.

"The IRGC Navy seized two violating vessels and transferred them to Iran's coast. IRGC Navy Command: Disruption of order and safety in the Strait of Hormuz is our red line," Fars said, adding that both vessels had been "immobilized."

more:

https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/iran-seizes-two-ships-hormuz-chokepoint-tehran-received-some-signs-us-ready-end

Trump says China tried to send ‘gift’ to Iran, undermining his ‘good relationship’ with Xi

By Mike Brest, Timothy Nerozzi

Published April 21, 2026 4:52pm ET

President Donald Trump is questioning whether his relationship with China’s paramount leader is as strong as he thought after Beijing allegedly tried to smuggle a “gift” to Iran.

The president, speaking to CNBC’s Squawk Box on Tuesday, said the United States “caught a ship yesterday that had some things on it, which wasn’t very nice — a gift from China perhaps.”

Without clarifying what the “gift” was, Trump said he was “sort of surprised” because he thought he could trust Chinese President Xi Jinping.

“I have a very good relationship, and I thought I had an understanding with President Xi,” Trump said. “But that’s all right. That’s the way war goes, right?”

Ships near the Strait of Hormuz.

Fishing boats dot the sea as cargo ships, in the background, sail through the Arabian Gulf toward the Strait of Hormuz off the coast of the United Arab Emirates, Friday, March 27, 2026. (AP Photo)

It was not immediately clear what naval interception Trump was referring to in his remarks to CNBC.

U.S forces seized an Iranian-flagged vessel on Sunday in the Gulf of Oman as it tried to evade the blockade.

more:

https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/world/4537620/trump-china-gift-iran-relationship-xi-jinping/

>>24526944

Iran Ship Seized by US Shows Beijing Helping Tehran, Ex-UN Envoy Says

Published

Apr 21, 2026 at 08:20 AM EDT

updated

Apr 21, 2026 a

Chinese links to the Iranian-flagged tanker seized by the U.S. show how Beijing is helping Tehran, former U.S. ambassador Nikki Haley has said, amid speculation that the vessel’s cargo contained materials that can be used for missiles.

Haley, former U.S. envoy to the United Nations, said that the Touska, which was captured on Sunday near the Iranian port of Chabahar, was "headed from China to Iran and is linked to chemical shipments for missiles."

The post on X by the 2024 Republican primary candidate added this was "another reminder that China is helping prop up Iran’s regime."

When asked whether the Touska was carrying rocket fuel precursors from China, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Guo Jiakun said Tuesday: "As far as I know, it is a foreign-flagged container ship."

"China opposes any malicious association and hyping up the issue," he added.

There's no confirmed evidence China has provided military support to Iran in the war launched by the U.S. and Israel. President Donald Trump has said Beijing committed not to supply Tehran with weapons after reports it was looking to sell it shoulder-fired air defense systems.

more:

https://www.newsweek.com/iran-ship-shows-beijing-helping-tehran-ex-envoy-11857181