The United States has seized an Iranian-flagged cargo ship near the Strait of Hormuz, the first such interception since it imposed a naval blockade on Iranian ports last week, escalating tensions with Tehran.
US officials said the vessel, the Touska, attempted to bypass the blockade before being stopped by a Navy destroyer.
President Donald Trump said forces “stopped them right in their tracks by blowing a hole in the engineroom,” adding Marines had taken control and were “seeing what’s on board!”.
US Central Command said “repeated warnings over a six-hour period” were issued. It is unclear if anyone was injured.
Iran condemned the move as piracy and warned it would respond. The incident has raised doubts over a fragile ceasefire set to expire midweek and potential US-Iran talks in Pakistan.
Iranian leaders questioned Washington’s intentions, with officials citing “bad intentions and lack of seriousness in diplomacy”, though negotiator Mohammed Bagher Qalibaf said “there will be no retreat in the field of diplomacy,” despite major differences remaining.
Shipping through the strait remains effectively halted, with hundreds of vessels waiting as both sides enforce restrictions.
The disruption threatens to deepen a global energy crisis, with about one-fifth of the world’s oil supply normally passing through the waterway.
Source: AP News.
