IRGC Releases Video Of Seizing India-Bound Ship And Tanker Linked To World’s Largest Shipper

Last Updated:April 23, 2026, 18:49 IST

The footage shows IRGC boats approaching vessels, including an India-bound ship headed to Mundra.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) on Wednesday released a video showing its forces intercepting the MSC Francesca and the Epaminondas in the Strait of Hormuz, shortly after state media reported that the ships were fired upon while attempting to transit the waterway.

In a statement, the IRGC Navy said it had detained the two vessels, accusing them of “jeopardising maritime security", operating without necessary permits and allegedly tampering with navigation systems. The ships were directed towards the Iranian coast, it said.

According to Nour News, affiliated with Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, the IRGC opened fire on the first vessel, identified as “Epaminodes", after it allegedly “ignored warnings from the Iranian armed forces."

The video shows small boats carrying armed personnel approaching both vessels. Epaminondas was headed to Mundra port in Gujarat.

However, BBC Verify said the footage appears to have been filmed after the initial attack.

In its analysis of the two-minute video, the broadcaster said the cargo ships were clearly identifiable and suggested the footage may have been shot around 5 pm local time, based on vessel movement data. It said this places the recording “several hours after the initial reported attack".

BBC Verify also flagged signs that parts of the footage may have been staged. It pointed to a hatch used by IRGC personnel to board MSC Francesca that was already open before their arrival. Another clip filmed on board appeared to have been recorded by someone already present on the vessel.

A separate shot shows a boat approaching the stern of the Greek-owned Epaminondas. Greek authorities have denied that the vessel was seized and said its captain remains in control, according to the broadcaster.

Ship-tracking platform MarineTraffic showed the Epaminondas in the Gulf of Oman at the time of writing. BBC Verify, citing its own tracking data, said the vessel later moved north-west towards Qeshm Island before its transponders were switched off.

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