Iran has seized two container ships, the MSC Francesca and the Epaminondas, in the Strait of Hormuz, claiming they were operating without permits and tampering with their navigation systems. The ships, carrying unknown cargo, were fired upon and seized by Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy. The seizure is the latest in a series of disruptions to shipping in the strait, which is a critical artery for global oil and gas supplies. The situation remains tense, with the US imposing a blockade on Iranian ships and Iran refusing to reopen the strait as long as the blockade remains in place.