BREAKING: Iran Strikes Back in Hormuz, Captures Vessel Tied to Billionaire Close to Trump, Macron

According to a report by Fox News on Thursday, April 23, 2026, tensions in the Strait of Hormuz escalated on April 22 after Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) seized two commercial vessels tied to billionaire close to Trump, Macron in what analysts have described as a “tit-for-tat” response linked to recent maritime incidents involving Iranian and Western interests.

Iranian state television aired footage on Thursday allegedly showing IRGC forces boarding container ships in the strategic waterway, according to Reuters.

One of the vessels, the MSC Francesca, is owned by Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC), a global shipping giant founded by Italian billionaire Gianluigi Aponte and now run by his children. Reports indicate the vessel was operating in the Gulf region at the time of the seizure.

A relative of one of the crew members told Reuters that around 20 armed individuals boarded the ship during the incident.

“Some 20 Iranians armed to the teeth stormed the ship. Sailors are under Iranian control, their movements on the ship are limited but the Iranians are treating them well,” the relative said.

Montenegro’s Minister of Maritime Affairs, Filip Radulović, confirmed that the vessel is currently anchored near Iran’s coast while discussions between MSC and Iranian authorities continue. He added that the crew members were safe.

Maritime intelligence firm Windward AI described the incident as part of a pattern of retaliatory actions in the region. According to co-founder Ami Daniel, the IRGC has increasingly engaged in reciprocal seizures following earlier maritime confrontations.

“This is a ‘tit-for-tat’ exercise by the IRGC,” Daniel said, adding that the group has previously accused MSC-linked vessels of ties to Israel allegations the company and broader shipping industry have not substantiated.

Windward AI reported that while two vessels were seized, a third managed to escape the encounter.

The escalation comes after earlier tensions involving U.S. naval activity in the region, including reported seizures of vessels linked to Iranian interests. Iranian authorities have previously warned of retaliation in response to such actions.

The MSC Francesca, reportedly carrying about 40 crew members, was later escorted toward Iran’s port of Bandar Abbas, according to maritime sources cited by Reuters.

Officials confirmed that crew members include nationals from Montenegro and Croatia, while diplomatic channels have been activated to ensure their safety. MSC has not issued an official statement on the incident.

The IRGC Navy stated that the detained vessels were operating without proper authorization.

According to shipping data from Lloyd’s List, the MSC Francesca built in 2008 typically operates routes between the U.S. West Coast, Asia, and the Middle East Gulf.