Grenade attack! Three cargo ships were attacked in one day, two were seized, and the Strait of Hormuz has fallen into maritime hand-to-hand combat.

Grenade attack! Three cargo ships were attacked in one day, two were seized, and the Strait of Hormuz has fallen into maritime hand-to-hand combat.

``` The Strait of Hormuz, the world's most vital energy corridor, is on the brink of direct armed confrontation. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) of Iran used firearms and rocket-propelled grenades (RPG) to attack three transiting merchant ships in a single day, detaining two of them. According to CCTV News on Wednesday, local time on the 22nd, Iranian sources reported that three ships were intercepted by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps in the Persian Gulf and surrounding waters. The report noted that two vessels belonging to Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) were intercepted by the IRGC while attempting to pass through the Strait of Hormuz and were prevented from crossing; another Greek-owned vessel was also intercepted and is currently anchored off the Iranian coast. On April 22, a Liberia-flagged container ship was attacked by IRGC speedboats with firearms and RPGs northeast of Oman, damaging the bridge, but all crew members were safe. The ship's captain later said that there were no radio warnings before the incident, and the vessel had previously been approved to transit the Strait of Hormuz. Subsequently, two more container ships—one Panama-flagged and one Liberia-flagged—were successively fired upon about 8 nautical miles west of the Iranian coast, but neither sustained damage, and the crew were safe. The IRGC said it had seized two unauthorized ships. Citing Iran’s Tasnim News Agency, Xinhua News Agency reported on the 22nd that the IRGC claimed to have detained two vessels attempting to pass through the Strait of Hormuz without permission. This series of actions took place after Trump announced an indefinite extension of the ceasefire, while making it clear that the US maritime blockade would continue, showing that Tehran is putting pressure on Washington with concrete actions, and the US-Iran maritime standoff has entered a new and dangerous phase. Three Ships Attacked, Two Seized in One Day According to a warning issued by the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), there were three separate armed attacks in the Strait of Hormuz on April 22. In the first incident, a Liberia-flagged container ship was approached northeast of Oman by IRGC speedboats, which then opened fire with firearms and RPGs, damaging the bridge. According to maritime security sources cited by Reuters, there were three people on the speedboat. The captain later confirmed that there was no radio contact or warning before the incident, and he had previously been informed the ship was cleared for passage. The second and third incidents occurred about 8 nautical miles west of the Iranian coast. Two container ships, while outward bound through the Strait of Hormuz, were successively fired upon. The Panama-flagged vessel was undamaged; the Liberia-flagged vessel was also undamaged but has stopped in the water. All crew members from the three incidents were safe. Later that day, semi-official Iranian news agency Fars reported that the IRGC had seized the MSC Francesca and the Greek-flagged Euphoria, escorting both ships to the Iranian coast. The IRGC stated both ships had been "immobilized". According to Bloomberg, Iranian state television identified the second detained ship as the Epaminondas. Both ships’ managers are registered in the international shipping database Equasis. Super Tankers "Break Through", Iran Tests the Boundaries of the US Blockade On the same day as the firefight in the strait, Iran was testing the real effectiveness of the US blockade in another way. According to Wallstreetcn's previous article, shipping analysis company Vortexa tracked via satellite imagery that two Iran-flagged VLCCs (Very Large Crude Carriers)—the Hero II and Hedy—entered the Arabian Sea on April 20. This area is the core blockade zone the US is trying to enforce against Iranian shipping. The two tankers together can carry about 4 million barrels of crude oil. Samir Madani, co-founder of TankerTrackers.com, said another Iranian VLCC, the Diona, appeared to have turned back after entering the Arabian Sea from the Strait of Hormuz. Vortexa noted that, because ships trying to evade the US Navy often switch off their transponders, the company relies on satellite images to track them. The Hero II’s last known public location was over a month ago, heading north in the Strait of Malacca; the Hedy last broadcast its position near Khor Fakkan, UAE, in late February. The final destination of both cargoes is unclear, but the vast majority of Iranian crude exports go to China. Vortexa data shows that since the US blockade began, at least 34 Iran-related tankers and gas carriers have crossed the strait and the blockade line, 19 of which are leaving the Persian Gulf, and 17 are carrying cargo. This data indicates that, in the face of the US blockade, Iran’s exports have not been completely halted. Blockade and Counter-Blockade: The Strategic Deadlock of US-Iran Rivalry The root of this round of tension dates back to late February. According to Bloomberg, after suffering military strikes from the US and Israel, Iran shut down the Strait of Hormuz. Before the conflict, this waterway carried about one-fifth of the world's daily supply of oil and liquefied natural gas. Washington’s initial response was to encourage the continued flow of Iranian crude in order to prevent a surge in oil prices. On April 13, the US shifted policy and imposed a comprehensive blockade on all Iranian shipping. Since then, the US Navy has detained an Iran-linked cargo ship and boarded a sanctioned tanker east of Sri Lanka, expanding the area of operations, and has intercepted at least 28 vessels. The US previously stated it would consider boarding and seizing any sanctioned vessel anywhere—meaning that the two VLCCs that have entered the Arabian Sea still risk being intercepted. On Tuesday, Trump announced an indefinite extension of the ceasefire but made clear the maritime blockade would be maintained, describing it as a "great success." However, Iran has defined the blockade as an "act of war." According to Bloomberg, about 800 vessels remain stranded in the Persian Gulf. The International Maritime Organization (IMO) said this week it is developing an evacuation plan, but it depends on de-escalation. Mixed Signals and Uncertainty Over Negotiations On the diplomatic front, the situation remains opaque. Iran's ambassador to the UN, Amir-Saeid Iravani, said in an interview with reporters: “We have received some signals that suggest they intend to break the blockade. Once the blockade is lifted, I believe the next round of negotiations will take place in Islamabad.” He added, “If they want to sit down and discuss a political solution they will find Iran is ready. If they want war, Iran is also ready.” However, the timetable for the next round of US-Iran talks remains unclear. US President Trump reiterated that the ceasefire will not be extended again and threatened to restart military action if an agreement is not reached. Iran has not yet decided whether to participate in talks, with lawmakers reiterating the demand to lift the maritime blockade. According to reports cited by CCTV News, Iran has informed the US through intermediaries that it will not participate in the US-Iran talks on the 22nd. US Vice President Vance has not yet left for Islamabad, Pakistan, to participate in negotiations with Iran; he is attending other policy meetings at the White House. Top traders believe the conflict has already resulted in a reduction of about 1 billion barrels in global oil supplies, and ongoing turmoil in the Strait of Hormuz makes resolution prospects even more complex. The IRGC’s statement that day clearly drew a red line, and the powder-keg atmosphere over the strait is unlikely to dissipate in the near term. Risk warnings and disclaimer The market has risks, investment needs caution. This article does not constitute personal investment advice, nor does it take into account the special investment goals, financial circumstances, or needs of individual users. Users should consider whether any opinion, viewpoint, or conclusion in this article suits their specific situation. Investments based on this, at your own risk. ```