Greece strongly denied Iranian reports alleging the seizure of a cargo vessel linked to Greek interests, stating that the ship remains under the full control of its captain and has not been detained by Iranian forces.
The Greek Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Island Policy dismissed claims circulated by Iranian media suggesting that the vessel had been intercepted by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and taken into Iranian waters. Authorities in Athens emphasized that the ship is currently anchored off the Iranian coast but continues to operate normally under its own command structure.
According to Greek newspaper Kathimerini, the situation began when a patrol boat belonging to the IRGC approached the vessel without prior radio communication. Reports from the maritime security firm Diaplous Group indicated that the vessel was subsequently fired upon, causing limited damage to the bridge area, though no injuries were reported among the crew.
The ship, sailing under the Liberian flag, is operated by a 21-member crew composed of Ukrainian and Filipino nationals, all of whom were confirmed safe following the incident.
Earlier, Iranian state television claimed that two vessels, including the MSC Francesca and Ipanemonidas, had been detained and escorted into Iranian territorial waters, accusing them of operating without proper authorization in the region.
Greek officials, however, insist that no seizure has taken place and reject the characterization of the incident as an act of detention, maintaining that the vessel remains under normal operational control despite its proximity to Iranian waters.
The conflicting accounts highlight ongoing tensions in strategically sensitive maritime routes, particularly amid heightened regional instability in the Middle East.
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