US President Donald Trump claimed on Sunday that US forces had seized an Iranian-flagged cargo ship, the TOUSKA, after it tried to circumvent a naval blockade near the Strait of Hormuz.Iran initially disputed the claim, saying U.S. troops were forced to withdraw. However, the Islamic Republic later confirmed the seizure and warned it would “response and retaliate”. The issue has heightened tensions just days before a fragile ceasefire is set to expire.“Today, an Iranian-flagged cargo ship named TOUSKA… tried to breach our naval blockade, but it didn’t go well,” he wrote in a post on Truth Social.Trump said a U.S. Navy guided-missile destroyer warned the ship to stop in the Gulf of Oman, but the ship failed to comply.“The U.S. Navy guided-missile destroyer USS Spruance intercepted the Tuska in the Gulf of Oman and warned them to stop. The Iranian crew refused to listen, so our Navy ship blew a hole in the engine room to stop them. The U.S. Marine Corps now has custody of the ship. The Tuska was sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury Department due to its previous history of illegal activity. We have full custody of the ship and are looking to see what’s on board!” he further wrote.
Central Command releases statement detailing seizure of Iranian ship
U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said forces operating in the Arabian Sea imposed a naval blockade on the Iranian-flagged cargo ship TOUSKA as it attempted to sail toward an Iranian port.According to Central Command, the USS Spruance intercepted the ship as it traveled through the North Arabian Sea at 17 knots toward the Iranian port of Bandar Abbas. The U.S. said it issued multiple warnings over a six-hour period during which it allegedly failed to comply with stop orders.The agency also released a video showing how the U.S. Navy intercepted the Iranian vessel Tuska in Hormuz. “U.S. Marines from the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit later boarded the non-compliant vessel, which remains in U.S. custody,” the statement added. Central Command said the U.S. military’s actions were “thoughtful, professional and proportionate” and claimed that 25 commercial ships have been directed to turn around or return to Iranian ports since the blockade began.
Iran earlier refuted U.S. claims
Before confirming the seizure, Iranian state media gave a different account of the same incident.According to Al Jazeera, citing the semi-official Mahr News Agency, “U.S. terrorist forces deployed to the waters surrounding the Sea of ​​Oman and opened fire on an Iranian merchant ship, forcing it to return to Iranian territorial waters.”“With the timely presence and rapid response of Iranian Revolutionary Guard naval forces to support the Iranian vessels, the Americans were forced to retreat and flee the area,” the statement added. The report did not name the vessel involved.The report did not name the ship, directly contradicting Trump’s assertion that the seizure was successful.
Iran confirms seizure, calls ‘armed pirates’
Iran later confirmed that a U.S. operation had targeted and seized an Iranian merchant ship.“The aggressive United States violated the ceasefire agreement and committed an act of piracy, attacking an Iranian merchant ship… opening fire on it and deploying several terrorist marines on the deck, disabling its navigation system,” a statement said.“We warn that the Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran will soon respond and retaliate against this act of armed piracy by U.S. forces.”The incident cast doubt on new diplomatic efforts. Trump had earlier said U.S. negotiators would travel to Pakistan for talks, but Iran has not yet confirmed its participation.Iranian officials also criticized what they called “excessive demands” and “ceasefire violations” by the United States, raising questions about whether talks can continue.
