US President Donald Trump claimed on Sunday that US forces seized the Iranian-flagged cargo ship TOUSKA as it tried to bypass the naval blockade near the Strait of Hormuz.Iran initially denied the claim, saying that US forces were forced to retreat. However, the Islamic Republic later confirmed the seizure and warned that it would “respond and retaliate”. The issue has heightened tensions just days before the fragile ceasefire is set to end.“Today, an Iranian-flagged cargo ship, named TOUSKA… tried to bypass our naval blockade, and it didn’t go well for them,” he wrote in a post on Truth Social.Trump said the ship was warned by a US Navy guided missile destroyer in the Gulf of Oman to stop, but it did not comply.“The US Navy guided missile destroyer USS Spruance intercepted TOUSKA in the Gulf of Oman, and gave them fair warning to stop. The Iranian crew refused to listen, so our Navy ship stopped them in their tracks by drilling a hole in the engine room. Right now, US Marines have custody of the ship. TOUSKA is under US Treasury sanctions due to its prior history of illegal activity. We have full custody of the ship, and We’re looking at what’s on the ship!” Wrote further.
CENTCOM issues statement, details seizure of Iranian ship
US Central Command (CENTCOM) said forces operating in the Arabian Sea implemented naval blockade measures against the Iranian-flagged cargo ship TOUSKA as it attempted to approach an Iranian port.According to CENTCOM, the USS Spruance intercepted the ship as it was crossing the North Arabian Sea at 17 nautical miles en route to Bandar Abbas, Iran. The US said repeated warnings were issued over a six-hour period, during which the ship allegedly failed to comply with orders to stop.The agency also released video showing how the US Navy intercepted the Iranian ship Toska in Hormuz. It added that “US Marines from the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit later boarded the non-compliant ship, which is in US custody.” CENTCOM said US forces acted in a “deliberate, professional and proportionate manner” and claimed that since the blockade began, 25 commercial vessels have been diverted or directed to return to Iranian ports.
Iran previously denied the US version
Before confirming the seizure, Iranian state-linked media gave a different account of the same incident.According to Al-Jazeera citing the semi-official Mehr news agency, “US terrorist forces deployed in the waters surrounding the Sea of Oman fired on an Iranian merchant ship to force it to return to Iranian territorial waters”.“With the timely appearance and quick response of IRGC naval units in support of the Iranian ship, the Americans were forced to retreat and flee the area,” it said. The report did not reveal the name of the ship involved.The report did not name the ship and directly contradicted Trump’s claim of a successful seizure.
Iran confirms seizure, calls it ‘armed piracy’
Iran later confirmed that the US operation targeted and seized one of its commercial ships.“The aggressive US, in violation of the ceasefire and committing piracy, attacked one of Iran’s commercial ships… fired on it and disabled its navigation system by deploying several of its terrorist marines on the deck,” it said in a statement.“We warn that the Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran will soon respond and retaliate against this armed robbery of U.S. forces.”This incident has cast doubt on new diplomatic efforts. Trump had earlier said US negotiators would go to Pakistan for talks, but Iran has not confirmed participation.Iranian officials have also criticized US “excessive demands” and “ceasefire violations”, raising questions about whether talks will move forward.
