President Donald Trump said on Sunday that US forces have seized an Iranian-flagged container ship after it attempted to breach the US naval blockade near the Strait of Hormuz.
In a social media post, Trump said the ship ignored warnings from a US Navy destroyer in the Gulf of Oman.
“An Iranian-flagged cargo ship named TOUSKA tried to get through the blockade, and it didn’t go well for them,” Trump said.
“(Our) Navy ship stopped them in their tracks by blowing a hole in the engine room,” Trump said, adding that US Marines have since taken possession of the ship.
“TOUSKA is under US Treasury sanctions due to its history of prior illicit activity,” he said.
Video released by the US Department of Defense shows the interception, including warnings issued to the crew.
An American sailor can be heard saying, “Evacuate your engine room. We are ready to fire you.”
The footage also shows the USS Spruance firing at the ship.
The ship was stopped near Iran’s border with Pakistan. According to tracking data, it had departed from Port Klang in Malaysia before approaching the blockade.
