# Iran Seizes Greek Billionaire George Prokopiou's Tanker Commercial traffic in the Strait of Hormuz comes to a halt. - **Source:** [Forbes - Business](https://brifing.si/source/e0310925-a7af-4d4b-80a7-c80d400e49fa) - **Published:** 2026-07-22 - **Topic:** [Business](https://brifing.si/c/business) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/7b1dbb71-9c0a-4c9d-8177-775a52d8310a ## Crisis in the Strait of Hormuz Iranian forces seized a tanker owned by Greek magnate George Prokopiou. This incident has brought commercial traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world's most important oil transit routes, to a standstill. Tensions in the region are escalating as attacks increase. ## Status of the Tanker The Kavomaleas tanker, owned by Prokopiou's company Dynacom, was hit by two missiles off the coast of Oman. The crew was forced to abandon the ship. Satellite images show the tanker in Iranian waters with smoke rising from its engine. ## Second Attack Another ship owned by Dynacom, the Acheloos, was also attacked. The vessel was carrying 2 million barrels of oil. The company is known for trading in risky regions and has sent at least 10 tankers through the Strait of Hormuz recently. ## Historical Connection Prokopiou likened his behavior of sailing through contested waters to Greek merchants during the Napoleonic Wars. He implied he wouldn't back down despite ongoing conflicts. This was interpreted as a nod to Greece's historical tradition of breaking blockades. ## US Response US President Donald Trump threatened to bomb bridges or power plants in response to attacks in the Strait of Hormuz. However, no official statement has been made regarding the seizure of the Kavomaleas. ## Global Impact The conflicts in the Strait of Hormuz are severely affecting global oil trade. Iran's control over the strait is increasing disputes over international waters. This situation could cause fluctuations in global energy markets. ## Sources covering this story - https://www.forbes.com/sites/maryroeloffs/2026/07/22/iran-apparently-seizes-greek-billionaires-shipping-tanker-in-strait-of-hormuz-report-says/ — --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._