The United States has seized an Iranian-flagged cargo ship. Iran has already condemned the theft as “armed maritime piracy,” and sent a warning of retaliation.
The ship was seized in the Gulf of Oman, attempting to breach the American naval blockade around Iran.
“The US Navy guided-missile destroyer USS Spruance intercepted the Touska in the Gulf of Oman and issued a warning to stop,” U.S. ruler Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social on Sunday. “The Iranian crew refused to comply, so our Navy ship stopped them in their tracks by blowing a hole in the engine room,” the president added, accoridng to a report by RT.
Iranian rulers claimed that the U.S. fired at the Touska before intercepting it.
In a statement released shortly afterward, Iran’s military command center, Khatam al-Anbiya, condemned the strike on a vessel returning from China, accusing Washington of violating the ceasefire in place since April 8th. This was at least the second time Iran accused its enemies of violating the ceasefire agreement.
Iran Accused Israel and The U.S. Of Violating The Ceasefire
Trump claimed that the ship had been sanctioned by the U.S. due to its “prior history of illegal activity.” Trump did not detail the “illegal activity” he alleged that the Touska and its crew were involved in. He did say that the U.S. is treating this like seize pirate loot, stating, “We are seeing what’s on board!”
Department of War chief Pete Hegseth had already said that ships in the Strait were now fair game for searches and seizures.
Hegseth: Hormuz Blockade Stays “As Long As It Takes” – Ships Now Fair Game For Search & Seizure
Trump announced the blockade of Iranian ports last week after Pakistani-mediated talks failed to achieve a breakthrough on a peace plan. Iran said it would close the Strait of Hormuz, which handles around 20% of global oil and liquefied natural gas. So the U.S. essentially blockaded an already blockaded Strait.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei denounced the blockade on Sunday as “unlawful and criminal.”
“We warn that the armed forces of… Iran will soon respond and retaliate against this armed piracy and the US military,” a spokesperson for the command center said, as cited by ISNA news agency, and reported by RT.