Nigeria, April 23 -- The Iranian Navy said on Wednesday that it had seized two cargo ships attempting to exit the Gulf through the Strait of Hormuz.

One of the ships seized is a Panama-flagged vessel named MSC Francesca, and the other is a Greek-flagged vessel named Epaminondas.

Iran said the ships were captured for operating without required permits and for tampering with their navigation systems.

This is the first seizure since the war with the US and Israel began in February.

Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy warned that any disruption to order and safety in the strait would be treated as a "red line," according to Reuters.

The BBC also reported that the army first opened fire on Epaminodes after it ignored warnings to retreat...