Iranian forces have seized two container ships near the Strait of Hormuz, sharply escalating the maritime crisis at the world’s most important energy chokepoint and underscoring how far commercial shipping remains from normal even as Washington claims control over the waterway.

There have been more than 30 attacks on ships in the Mideast since the war began February 28 with US and Israeli airstrikes on Iran.

The ships were identified as the MSC Francesca and Epaminondas, with the incident marking the first such seizure since the war began in late February.