Iranian intelligence services have seized the MSC Aries in the Persian Gulf, according to Middle Eastern media, and it is now heading towards Iran.
The Iranian Tasnim News Agency was the first to report the seizure, saying that the vessel was seized by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as "affiliated with the Zionist regime," i.e. Israel.
A little later, AP published a video of the seizure, filmed from the ship, which shows the landing of a helicopter landing party.
One of the ship's crew members can be heard saying to someone: "Don't come out". Then the same male voice tells his colleagues to go to the bridge while the new paratroopers are still descending to the deck.
The incident took place against the backdrop of rising tensions between Iran and Western countries.
Israel fears an attack from Tehran after the Iranian embassy in the Syrian capital Damascus was attacked on 1 April, killing several leaders of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, including two generals.
The ship's operator, MSC, confirmed the seizure of the Portuguese-flagged vessel with 25 people on board in the Strait of Hormuz.
"We regret to inform you that MSC Aries, owned by Zodiac Maritime and chartered by MSC, has been seized by an Iranian helicopter landing party while sailing through the Strait of Hormuz," the company said in a statement.
It also states that MSC is "working closely with the relevant authorities to ensure the welfare of the crew and the safe return of the vessel".
Zodiac Maritime is part of the Zodiac Group, owned by Israeli billionaire Eyal Ofer.
However, MSC later clarified that the vessel's owner is Gortal Shipping, which is only "affiliated" with Zodiac Maritime.
A representative of the Israeli army command said that any attempt by Iran to escalate the conflict would not go unanswered.
Background. The day before, Western intelligence reported that Iran was preparing to attack Israel in the next 24 hours.