Iran seizes MSC ships in Hormuz

Since the outbreak of the Iran war in late February, Iran has enforced control over the Strait of Hormuz, closing it and attacking ships. On April 22, Iran seized two MSC container ships, the MSC Francesca and the Epaminondas, as they attempted passage. About two dozen sailors on the Francesca remain trapped under Iranian guard for over four months, with limited communication and food. Roughly 6,000 sailors remain stranded in the region, with 17 killed in 64 attacks. The seizures have drawn international diplomatic efforts from Panama, Switzerland, Croatia, and the Philippines, but release is complicated by the wider geopolitical conflict. The conflict has drastically reduced shipping through the strait, from 130 ships a day to just over a dozen, threatening global trade and oil supply.