US and Iran continue seizing ships in tense Hormuz standoff

EuroNews · 🇫🇷 public France · Apr 23, 2026 · 563 words · By Mohamed Elashi

Maritime Trade/Energy Security Geopolitical Conflict/Standoff

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What to know about Maritime Trade/Energy Security

The US and Iran continued seizing ships in the tense Hormuz standoff, with Tehran calling Washington's blockade a “ceasefire violation” and claiming it has been collecting transit fees for passage.

Claims checked 20

Techniques found 1

Topics 2

Coverage spectrum

Coverage gap: Low Left coverage

Left0%

Center80%

Right20%

5 sources compared across this story cluster. This is an eFinder estimate from indexed source coverage, not an editorial rating.

What happened

Why it matters

The US military seized another oil tanker in the Indian Ocean on Thursday that it said was associated with smuggling Iranian oil, as the wartime sea standoff between the US and Iran continued.

Common ground

The seizure of oil tanker Majestic X followed Iran’s attack on three cargo ships on Wednesday in the Strait of Hormuz, capturing two of them.

Perspective signals

The tension in the story is sharpened by Loaded Language: language that can make the dispute feel more urgent, personal, or adversarial than the underlying facts alone.

Follow-up questions

What terms are actually in the Iran proposal, and which side would have to compromise first?
What evidence would most clearly confirm or weaken the claim that The US Defence Department released footage of the seizure of the vessel, showing US troops on the deck, stating that the US military "will continue global maritime enforcement to disrupt illicit networks and interdict vessels providing material support to Iran, wherever they operate."?
How does this story connect Maritime Trade/Energy Security with Geopolitical Conflict/Standoff over the next few days?

open_in_new Read the original article: https://www.euronews.com/2026/04/23/us-and-iran-continue-seizing-ships-in-tense-…

psychologyPropaganda Techniques Detected

eFinder identified 1 propaganda technique in this article. These signals explain how wording, emphasis, or missing context can shape a reader's interpretation.

warning

Loaded Language 60% confidence

Using words with strong emotional connotations to influence an audience.

Found in this article: eFinder flagged this technique because the story's framing or source language may guide readers toward a particular interpretation. Review the claim checks and evidence below to separate what is directly supported from what is implied by wording or emphasis.

Why it matters: Recognizing loaded language helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.

fact_checkClaims Checked

eFinder analyzed this article and checked 20 claims against available evidence, cross-references, web search, and Wikipedia. Here is what the fact-checking layer found.

schedule Pending 10

check_circle Corroborated 7

help Insufficient Evidence 2

info Single Source 1

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Claim 1: “The US Defence Department released footage of the seizure of the vessel, showing US troops on the deck, stating that the US military "will continue global maritime enforcement to disrupt illicit networks and interdict vessels providing material support to Iran, wherever they operate."”

CORROBORATED

Multiple web search results quote the US Department of Defence stating the intent to continue global maritime enforcement to disrupt illicit networks and interdict vessels supporting Iran.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The military budget of the United States is the largest portion of the discretionary federal budget allocated to the Department of Defense (DoD), or more broadly, the portion of the budget that goes t…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_budget_of_the_United_…

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The United States Department of Defense (DOD), also referred to as the Department of War (DOW), is an executive department of the United States federal government charged with coordinating and supervi…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Department_of_De…

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The United States secretary of defense (SecDef), secondarily titled the secretary of war (SecWar), is the head of the United States Department of Defense (DoD), the executive department of the U.S. Ar…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Secretary_of_Def…

+ 3 more evidence sources

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Claim 2: “Initial revenues were transferred to the central bank, according to Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

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Claim 3: “The seizure of oil tanker Majestic X followed Iran’s attack on three cargo ships on Wednesday in the Strait of Hormuz, capturing two of them.”

CORROBORATED

Web search results corroborate that the seizure of the Majestic X followed an incident where Iran attacked ships in the Strait of Hormuz, and that Iran captured multiple vessels.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — On 13 April 2026, the United States imposed a naval blockade on Iran following the failure of the Islamabad Talks to end the 2026 Iran war. The US military said the blockade had begun on Monday, 13 Ap…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_United_States_naval_block…

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Mohammad Reza Pahlavi (26 October 1919 – 27 July 1980) was the last Shah of Iran from 1941 to 1979. He succeeded his father Reza Shah and ruled the Imperial State of Iran until he was overthrown in th…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mohammad_Reza_Pahlavi

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — National symbols of Iran (Persian: نمادهای ملی ایران, romanized: Namâd hâ-ye melli-ye Irân) encompass national emblems, symbols, or distinctive features revered by the Iranian people at a national or …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_symbols_of_Iran

+ 3 more evidence sources

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Claim 4: “Haji Babaei said the “first revenue from Hormuz transit tolls has been deposited” into state accounts, while another lawmaker said charges vary depending on cargo and navigation conditions.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

help

Claim 5: “Meanwhile on Thursday, diplomatic efforts around the Strait of Hormuz remain stalled, with Iran hardening its position as tensions continue in the waterway.”

INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE

No evidence was found in the provided web search or Wikipedia results to confirm that diplomatic efforts remained stalled on Thursday, or that Iran hardened its position on that specific day.

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Claim 6: “Earlier on Thursday, Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) also released footage showing its own seizure of vessels in the Strait of Hormuz.”

CORROBORATED

Multiple web search results confirm that on Wednesday/Thursday, the IRGC released footage showing its seizure of vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, specifically naming the interception of two ships.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) on Wednesday released a video showing its forces intercepting the MSC Francesca and the Epaminondas in the Strait of Hormuz, shortly after state media r…
https://www.news18.com/world/irgc-releases-video-of-seizing-…

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web search NEUTRAL — Iranian state television released a video showing IRGC personnel seizing two container ships, MSC-Francesca and Epaminodes, in the Strait of Hormuz, citing maritime violations. This action follows Ira…
https://www.thedailyjagran.com/world/iranian-soldiers-board-…

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web search NEUTRAL — Tehran has released a propaganda video showing their troops seizing two ships in an effort to show the world - and Donald Trump - who really controls the Strait of Hormuz. Dramatic footage shows maske…
https://www.dailymail.com/news/article-15757927/Iran-release…

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Claim 7: “Iranian officials said talks cannot resume unless the US blockade is lifted, even as the truce has halted direct military strikes.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

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Claim 8: “Iran’s deputy parliament speaker, Hamidreza Haji Babaei, said Tehran claimed that it had already collected transit fees from ships passing through the strait.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

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Claim 9: “Iran’s parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said reopening the strait would be “impossible” while the US naval blockade remains in place, calling it a “blatant violation” of the ceasefire.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

schedule

Claim 10: “US officials said restoring normal shipping could take time, even if an agreement is reached to reopen free navigation in the strait.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

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Claim 11: “The Majestic X, a Guyana-flagged oil tanker, had previously been named Phonix and was sanctioned by the US Treasury in 2024 for smuggling Iranian crude oil in contravention of US sanctions on the Islamic Republic.”

CORROBORATED

All three web search results consistently state that the Majestic X was a Guyana-flagged tanker, was previously named Phonix, and was sanctioned by the US Treasury in 2024 for smuggling Iranian crude oil.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — The Majestic X, formerly known as Phonix, had been sanctioned by the Treasury Department in 2024 for smuggling Iranian crude oil in violaiton of American sanctions on the Islamic Republic.
https://nypost.com/2026/04/23/world-news/us-military-seizes-…

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web search NEUTRAL — The Majestic X, a Guyana-flagged oil tanker, was previously named Phonix and was sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury Department in 2024 for its involvement in smuggling Iranian crude oil, which ...
https://www.msn.com/en-in/news/world/us-military-seizes-oil-…

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web search NEUTRAL — The Majestic X is a Guyana-flagged oil tanker. It previously had been named Phonix and had been sanctioned by the US Treasury Department in 2024 for smuggling Iranian crude oil in contravention of ...
https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/us-military-sei…

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Claim 12: “The US and Iran continued seizing ships in the tense Hormuz standoff, with Tehran calling Washington's blockade a “ceasefire violation” and claiming it has been collecting transit fees for passage.”

CORROBORATED

Multiple web search results indicate ongoing tensions, with reports citing Iran accusing the US of breaches and mentioning the collection of fees or blockades. One source notes Iran accusing the US of a 'breach of commitments' and mentioning the seizure of ships.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — On 28 February 2026, the United States and Israel launched airstrikes on Iran targeting military and government sites and assassinating several Iranian officials, including Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_Iran_war

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — On 8 April 2026, the United States and Iran agreed to a two-week ceasefire in the 2026 Iran war, mediated by Pakistan. Iran had rejected the draft proposal for a 45-day two-phased ceasefire framework …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_Iran_war_ceasefire

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+ 3 more evidence sources

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Claim 13: “Ship-tracking data showed the Majestic X could be located in the Indian Ocean between Sri Lanka and Indonesia, roughly the same area as the oil tanker Tifani, which was earlier seized by US forces. It had been bound for Zhoushan in China.”

CORROBORATED

Multiple web search results confirm that ship-tracking data placed the Majestic X in the Indian Ocean between Sri Lanka and Indonesia, near the Tifani, and that it was destined for Zhoushan in China.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Chittagong ( CHIT-ə-gong), officially Chattogram (Bengali: চট্টগ্রাম, romanized: Côṭṭôgrām, IPA: [ˈt͡ʃɔʈːoɡram] , traditionally Bengali: চাটগাঁও, romanized: Cāṭgão; Chittagonian: চিটাং/সিটাং, romanize…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chittagong

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Indus Valley Civilisation (IVC), also known as the Indus Civilisation, was a Bronze Age civilisation in the northwestern regions of South Asia, lasting from 3300 BCE to 1300 BCE, and in its mature…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indus_Valley_Civilisation

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — USS America (hull number CVA/CV-66) was one of three Kitty Hawk-class supercarriers built for the United States Navy in the 1960s. Commissioned in 1965, she spent most of her career operating in the A…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_America_(CV-66)

+ 3 more evidence sources

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Claim 14: “The US military seized another oil tanker in the Indian Ocean on Thursday that it said was associated with smuggling Iranian oil, as the wartime sea standoff between the US and Iran continued.”

CORROBORATED

Multiple web search results confirm that the US military seized an oil tanker in the Indian Ocean on Thursday, specifically linking the seizure to smuggling Iranian oil, and noting this escalated the standoff.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Black Friday is a 2004 Indian Hindi-language crime drama film written and directed by Anurag Kashyap. Based on Black Friday: The True Story of the Bombay Bomb Blasts, a book by Hussain Zaidi about the…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Friday_(2004_film)

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The humanitarian response to the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake of a magnitude of 9.2–9.3 was prompted by one of the worst natural disasters of modern times. On 26 December 2004, the earthquake, which s…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Humanitarian_response_to_the_2…

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Ocean rowing is the sport of rowing across oceans. Some ocean rowing boats can hold as many as fourteen rowers; however, the most common ocean rowboats are designed for singles, doubles, and fours. Th…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ocean_rowing

+ 3 more evidence sources

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Claim 15: “There was no immediate response from Iran on the news of the seizure.”

SINGLE SOURCE

Only one web search result mentions Iran's seizure of tankers in the Strait of Hormuz, citing general activity. The other sources discuss US seizures or general tensions, but do not provide a direct, corroborating report that Iran *did not* immediately respond to the Majestic X seizure. The evidence is insufficient to confirm the lack of response across multiple sources.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Iran has periodically seized tankers and cargo ships travelling in and around the Persian Gulf, which is a key global shipping route for oil and liquefied natural gas. It has often cited maritime viol…
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cze6zxjw3g3o

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web search NEUTRAL — London has denounced Iran's seizure of a British-flagged oil tanker in the Gulf as a "hostile act." German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas says Europe is trying to prevent an "uncontrollable military esca…
https://www.dw.com/en/britain-calls-stena-impero-oil-tanker-…

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web search NEUTRAL — УНН News of the World The US President announced the elimination of up to 60 Iranian vessels overnight. Trump called on tankers to freely pass through the "safe" Strait of …
https://unn.ua/en/news/iran-did-not-lay-mines-trump-called-o…

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Claim 16: “The Pentagon said clearing Iranian sea mines in the strait could take up to six months, while separate estimates suggest it could take weeks before commercial traffic starts to recover.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

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Claim 17: “Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian also blamed Washington for the stalemate, saying “bad faith, siege and threats are the main obstacles to genuine negotiation.””

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

help

Claim 18: “Iranian media said two container ships were seized after coming under fire, while a third vessel was also targeted in the waterway.”

INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE

No evidence was found in the provided web search or Wikipedia results to confirm that Iranian media reported two container ships were seized after coming under fire, and a third was targeted.

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Claim 19: “Ship owners and insurers would need two to five weeks to become comfortable with a new operating environment and resume normal operations.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

schedule

Claim 20: “According to analytical and data firm Rystad Energy, if and when the war ends it would take six to eight weeks just to reposition the world’s tanker network.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

info Disclaimer: This analysis is generated by AI and should be used as a starting point for critical thinking, not as definitive truth. Claims are verified against publicly available sources. Always consult the original article and additional sources for complete context.