US Navy seizes Iranian shipUS Navy seizes Iranian ship in Gulf of Oman after it ignores blockade warnings
The US Navy intercepted and seized an Iranian-flagged cargo ship named Touska near the Strait of Hormuz in the Gulf of Oman on Sunday. US forces fired on the vessel to disable it after it ignored orders to stop during enforcement of a naval blockade on Iranian ports, with President Trump sharing details on social media. US Marines boarded and took custody to inspect its cargo.
This marks the first such seizure since the US blockade began last week, heightening tensions over control of the Strait of Hormuz, a vital global oil route. Iran called the action armed piracy and vowed retaliation, while US reports frame it as necessary enforcement amid an ongoing standoff. The incident raises risks of wider naval confrontation between the two nations.
US Perspective
The US Navy enforced a naval blockade by intercepting the Iranian ship Touska after it ignored repeated warnings to stop. President Trump stated forces disabled the vessel's engine and Marines took custody to inspect cargo, describing it as the first seizure in the operation. Officials link the action to Iran's restrictions on the Strait of Hormuz.
Iranian Perspective
Iran confirmed US forces fired on and seized one of its commercial ships, labeling the move armed piracy that violated a ceasefire. Officials vowed retaliation soon against what they call aggressive American actions. Iranian media reported the IRGC forced US troops to withdraw from the area after the incident.
- The Strait of Hormuz handles roughly one-third of global maritime oil trade, making disruptions there critical to worldwide energy markets.
- The USS Spruance, a guided missile destroyer, was the vessel that intercepted and disabled the Touska by firing on its engine room.
- This incident occurred amid ongoing peace talks in Pakistan aimed at ending the Middle East conflict, complicating diplomatic efforts.
US-Iran Ceasefire War
The United States launched military strikes against Iran on June 26, 2026, in response to a drone attack on a commercial cargo ship in the Strait of Hormuz, calling it a "foolish violation" of the 60-day ceasefire agreement signed just days earlier[2][4][14].
26 June, 09:35 PM
US launches strikes against Iran following commercial ship attack26 June, 04:47 PM
Trump calls Iran drone attack on cargo ship a ceasefire violation
