WASHINGTON — The U.S. Navy seized an Iranian-flagged cargo ship near the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday after firing on the vessel to disable its engine room, U.S. officials said.
President Donald Trump announced the operation on social media, saying the guided-missile destroyer USS Spruance intercepted the ship, identified as the Touska, after it attempted to bypass a U.S. naval blockade of Iranian ports. U.S. Central Command confirmed the seizure, stating that the vessel ignored repeated warnings over approximately six hours before the Navy took action.
The incident occurred in the Gulf of Oman, near the entrance to the Strait of Hormuz, on April 19, 2026. Marines boarded the ship after it was disabled and took custody of the vessel, which U.S. officials described as sanctioned. It marked the first reported boarding since the U.S. blockade began on April 13, officials said. Previously, about 25 other ships had turned back when hailed, according to Central Command.
Trump stated that the Navy gave the Touska fair warning to stop, which was ignored. "So our Navy ship stopped them right in their tracks by blowing a hole in the engineroom," he wrote. U.S. officials said the ship was steaming toward the Iranian port of Bandar Abbas when intercepted.
Iran condemned the action as "armed piracy" and vowed a swift response, according to Iranian state media and military statements. Tehran accused the United States of violating a fragile ceasefire and said the seizure would affect ongoing regional dynamics. Details of any Iranian casualties or damage beyond the engine room remained unclear as of Monday.
The U.S. blockade targets maritime trade, including oil shipments, linked to broader tensions in the Middle East. The Strait of Hormuz is a critical chokepoint for global energy supplies. Iranian officials had previously signaled strict control over the waterway in response to the U.S. measures.
No immediate information was released about the ship's cargo or crew beyond U.S. statements that Marines were examining the vessel. U.S. officials have not detailed any injuries on either side from the incident.
The seizure comes ahead of planned U.S. talks in Pakistan and amid questions over the stability of a ceasefire arrangement. Iranian parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf was cited in reports saying ships could not transit the strait while Iran faced restrictions.
As of Monday, April 20, 2026, the Touska remained in U.S. custody. Central Command said the operation was complete, with the ship secured. Further details on its disposition and any diplomatic fallout were not immediately available. Both sides continued to accuse each other of ceasefire violations in public statements.
