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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
World
Adam Fulton, Coral Murphy Marcos, Aneesa Ahmed, Tom Ambrose, Taz Ali and Mark Saunokonoko

Erdogan says Iran war ‘starting to weaken Europe’ – as it happened

Ships and boats in the strait of Hormuz, Musandam, Oman, 22 April, 2026.
Ships and boats in the strait of Hormuz, Musandam, Oman, 22 April, 2026. Photograph: Reuters

We’re closing this file now but our live coverage of the Middle East continues in a new blog here, including a fresh summary of the latest developments. Thanks for following along.

Updated

Earlier today, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) released video footage purportedly showing their forces seizing two vessels in the strait of Hormuz.

The IRGC said they seized the vessels for what it called maritime violations, and escorted them to Iranian shores, according to statements by the shipping companies and Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency – the first time Iran has seized ships since the war began at the end of February.

Tasnim reported that the IRGC ​had accus​ed the two ships – the Panama-flagged MSC Francesca and Liberia-flagged Epaminondas – of “attempting to exit the strait of Hormuz covertly”.​

Updated

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