Mojtaba punishes European ships as US hijacks Iranian civilian ship: French vessel damaged after…

Iran’s response to U.S. naval pressure is now hitting Europe at sea. As the U.S. Navy fires on and hijacks an Iranian civilian‑flagged cargo ship in the Gulf of Oman, forces aligned with Mojtaba appear to be shifting the cost onto Washington’s allies. A French‑operated container vessel transiting the Strait of Hormuz has been damaged after coming under suspected Iranian fire, with officials reporting hits to the ship but no casualties on board. Tehran’s message is clear: if the U.S. strangles Iran’s economy with blockades and seizures, European ships will feel the heat in one of the world’s most vital maritime chokepoints. The incidents are deepening fears in European capitals that they are being dragged into a confrontation driven by U.S.–Iran brinkmanship, not their own decisions. With the ceasefire clock ticking down, every new attack, warning shot and boarding operation in and around Hormuz raises the risk of miscalculation and a wider regional war.