Iran live updates: IRGC says it seized 2 vessels in Strait of Hormuz

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy confirmed its interdiction and seizure of two vessels on Wednesday which it said were "attempting to secretly exit the Strait of Hormuz."

The IRGC Navy named the two vessels as the MSC Francesca and the Epaminondas. Both were transferred to Iranian territorial waters "in order to examine the cargo and documents," the navy said.

ABC News has reached out to MSC for comment.

-ABC News' Somayeh Malekian

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) issued a statement Wednesday saying that its forces are "at the peak of readiness and determination to continue fighting the enemies," as quoted by Iranian state television.

The IRGC said it is ready to present "surprises beyond the enemy's comprehension on the battlefield." The statement also marked the anniversary of the IRGC's establishment.

"The Revolutionary Guard Corps is ready to confront decisively and immediately against any threat or repeated aggression by the enemies, and in the new round of possible military battle, it will inflict crushing blows beyond the enemy's imagination on their remaining assets in the region," the statement said.

On Tuesday evening, Iranian forces displayed a ballistic missile in an orchestrated gathering in Tehran.

-ABC News' Somayeh Malekian and Joe Simonetti

Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Guo Jiakun said during a Wednesday press briefing that Beijing is fulfilling its "due international obligations" after President Donald Trump said U.S. forces enforcing the blockade of Iran in the Persian Gulf intercepted a vessel carrying what he described as a "gift from China."

Trump told CNBC on Tuesday, "We caught a ship yesterday that had some things on it, which wasn't very nice, a gift from China, perhaps, I don't know, but I was a little surprised, but because I have a very good relationship, and I thought I had an understanding with President Xi [Jinping], but that's all right, that's the way war goes, right?"

Guo said Wednesday, "China has stated its position many times. We would like to reiterate that, as a responsible major power, China has consistently and exemplary fulfilled its due international obligations."

Nikki Haley, who served as the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations during Trump's first term, alleged on Tuesday that a tanker disabled and intercepted by U.S. forces over the weekend was en route to Iran from China and carrying chemicals used to produce missile fuel.

Guo said on Tuesday that the vessel was "a foreign container ship" and that Beijing "rejects any false association and speculation."

-ABC News' Karson Yiu

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) Centre reported a second incident involving an unnamed cargo vessel in the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday morning.

The incident occurred around 8 nautical miles off the Iranian coast. A crewmember reported "having been fired upon" with the vessel then stopping. There was no reported damage to the vessel and no reported casualties, the UKMTO said.