Iranian forces seized a giant boxship owned by an affiliate of Zodiac Maritime and chartered by MSC Mediterranean Shipping Co early on Saturday.

The target of the operation in the Strait of Hormuz was the 15,000-teu MSC Aries (built 2020), MSC said, confirming an earlier TradeWinds report.

The vessel has been diverted from its itinerary towards Iran, the company said in a statement.