Panama Calls Seizure Of Ship In Strait Of Hormuz ‘Illegal’

08:04 23.4.2026

Panama condemned the seizure of a ship flying its flag as it passed through the Strait of Hormuz, calling it an “illegal detention.”

According to media reports, Panama’s Foreign Ministry has announced that the ship, the MSC-Francesca, was “forcibly” transferred to Iranian waters.

Panama also accused Iran of violating international law, saying the move was a “serious attack on maritime security” and an “unnecessary escalation” of tensions.

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy announced on April 22 that it had seized “two offending ships” that it claimed were attempting to “secretly exit” the Strait of Hormuz.

According to the IRGC announcement, the Israeli-owned MSC-Francesca and the Greek-owned Epaminondas were stopped on charges that they intended to “secretly” exit the Strait of Hormuz “without authorization” and “by committing repeated violations and tampering with navigational aid systems and endangering maritime security.”

The IRGC Navy said these vessels have been transferred to Iranian territorial waters to examine the cargo and documents.

The announcement came on a day when, according to maritime sources, three container ships were targeted by gunfire.

Source: trump-khamenei/33640284.html?lbis=451542

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