US President Donald Trump on Sunday claimed that the navy has forcibly seized an Iranian-flagged cargo ship named TOUSKA, after it allegedly attempted to bypass a naval blockade near the Strait of Hormuz.In a post on Truth Social he wrote, “Today, an Iranian-flagged cargo ship named TOUSKA… tried to get past our Naval Blockade, and it did not go well for them.”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 the 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 right in their tracks by blowing a hole in the engine room. Right now, U.S. Marines have custody of the vessel. The TOUSKA is under US Treasury Sanctions because of their prior history of illegal activity. We have full custody of the ship, and are seeing what’s on board!,” he further wrote.The announcement comes amid heightened tensions over the Strait of Hormuz and ongoing efforts to revive talks between Washington and Tehran.Click here for live blog updatesEarlier, questions were raised over Trump’s statement that US negotiators would head to Pakistan on Monday for another round of talks with Iran. Meanwhile, Tehran has not confirmed participation in the next round of talks.
CENTCOM issues statement
US Central Command (CENTCOM) said that the forces operating in the Arabian Sea enforced naval blockade measures against the Iranian-flagged cargo vessel TOUSKA as it attempted to sail toward an Iranian port.According to CENTCOM, the USS Spruance intercepted the vessel as it transited the north Arabian Sea at 17 knots en route to Bandar Abbas, Iran. The US said repeated warnings were issued over a six-hour period, during which the vessel allegedly failed to comply with orders to stop.It added that “US Marines from the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit later boarded the non-compliant vessel, which remains in US custody.”CENTCOM said US forces acted in a “deliberate, professional, and proportional manner” and claimed that since the blockade began, 25 commercial vessels have been directed to turn around or return to Iranian ports.
‘US forced to retreat’: Iran counters Trump claim of ship seizure in Hormuz
Iranian state-linked media has reported that its forces foiled an alleged US attempt to seize an Iranian commercial vessel in the Sea of Oman, presenting a version that contrasts with claims made earlier by Trump.According to Al-Jazeera citing the semi-official Mehr news agency, “American terrorist forces deployed to the waters surrounding the Sea of Oman and opened fire on an Iranian merchant ship to force it to return to Iranian territorial waters”.It added, “with the timely presence and rapid response of the IRGC naval units in support of the Iranian ship, the Americans were forced to retreat and flee the area.”The report did not name the vessel involved.
