Iranian seizure of the MSC Aries
| Part of the 2024 Iran–Israel conflict and Middle Eastern crisis (2023–present) | |
Strait of Hormuz, location of the seizure | |
| Date | 13 April 2024 |
|---|---|
| Location | Strait of Hormuz |
| Perpetrator | Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps |
| Outcome | Crew released but the vessel remained under Iranian control |
On 13 April 2024, Iran seized MSC Aries, a Portuguese-registered and Madeira-flagged container ship owned by Gortal Shipping and leased to Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC), which Iran claimed was linked to Israel. The ship, with a crew of 25 people, was boarded by Iranian commandos in the Strait of Hormuz, within international waters off the coast of the United Arab Emirates, and taken to Iranian waters, effectively imprisoning the crew.
The United States, United Kingdom, and Portugal (where the ship is registered) called for the ship's release immediately afterwards. On 3 May, Iran released the crew, but retained control of the vessel.