President Donald Trump announced on Truth Social that the U.S. Navy fired on and seized the Iranian-flagged cargo ship Touska, in the Gulf of Oman after it ignored warnings to stop during an attempt to bypass the U.S. naval blockade of Iranian ports.
The USS Spruance, a guided-missile destroyer, disabled the vessel by blowing a hole in its engine room, and U.S. Marines subsequently took custody of the ship, which is under U.S. Treasury sanctions due to its "prior history of illegal activity." Trump stated, “We have full custody of the ship, and are seeing what’s on board!”
"Today, an Iranian-flagged cargo ship named TOUSKA, nearly 900 feet long and weighing almost as much as an aircraft carrier, tried to get past our Naval Blockade, and it did not go well for them," Trump wrote on Truth Social. "The U.S. 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 engineroom. Right now, U.S. Marines have custody of the vessel. The TOUSKA is under U.S. Treasury Sanctions because of their prior history of illegal activity. We have full custody of the ship, and are seeing what’s on board!"
The incident occurred amid escalating tensions and just before a possible new round of U.S.-Iran peace talks in Islamabad, Pakistan.
Trump accused Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) of violating the two-week ceasefire by firing on two UK and French-flagged ships in the Strait of Hormuz, calling it a “Total Violation of our Ceasefire Agreement!”
Two Indian-flagged tankers were reportedly fired upon by Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) gunboats while attempting to transit the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday, prompting a diplomatic protest from India.
Audio and video clips circulating on X captured the distressing moments, including a frantic plea from the captain of the Sanmar Herald, a motor tanker, who exclaimed: “Sepah Navy! Sepah Navy! This is motor tanker Sanmar Herald! You gave me clearance to go! My name is second on your list! You are firing now! Let me turn back!” The audio has been verified via maritime tracking data by TankerTrackers.com and confirmed by the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO). No injuries or significant damage were reported; both vessels safely reversed course.
The Indian Ministry of External Affairs summoned Iran’s ambassador, expressing deep concern and urging the restoration of safe passage for Indian ships, recalling Iran’s prior cooperation. Iran’s Supreme Leader’s representative in India stated the bilateral relationship remains strong and expressed hope the incident would be resolved.
"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," Trump claimed on Truth Social. "That wasn’t nice, was it? My Representatives are going to Islamabad, Pakistan — They will be there tomorrow evening, for Negotiations. Iran recently announced that they were closing the Strait, which is strange, because our BLOCKADE has already closed it. They’re helping us without knowing, and they are the ones that lose with the closed passage, $500 Million Dollars a day! The United States loses nothing. In fact, many Ships are headed, right now, to the U.S., Texas, Louisiana, and Alaska, to load up, compliments of the IRGC, always wanting to be 'the tough guy!' We’re offering a very fair and reasonable DEAL, and I hope they take it because, if they don’t, the United States is going to knock out every single Power Plant, and every single Bridge, in Iran. NO MORE MR. NICE GUY! They’ll come down fast, they’ll come down easy and, if they don’t take the DEAL, it will be my Honor to do what has to be done, which should have been done to Iran, by other Presidents, for the last 47 years. IT’S TIME FOR THE IRAN KILLING MACHINE TO END!"
While French shipping company CMA CGM confirmed one of its vessels was targeted by warning shots, and India reported attacks on its ships, the UK denied any attacks on British-linked vessels. Iran, however, has not confirmed the seizure of Touska and dismissed reports of renewed talks as false, citing the U.S. blockade as unlawful.
Iran had briefly reopened the Strait of Hormuz on April 17 following a 10-day truce and a ceasefire in Lebanon, but reversed the decision within 24 hours after the U.S. maintained its naval blockade of Iranian ports. Iran’s IRGC declared the strait under “strict management,” warning that any vessel approaching without authorization would be considered hostile and targeted.
The Sanmar Herald and another Indian-flagged vessel, Bhagya Lakshmi, were turned back — the latter after being instructed by Iranian forces to “turn around immediately” due to lack of clearance.
The Strait of Hormuz remains closed, affecting about 20% of global oil shipments.
The U.S. demands Iran halt uranium enrichment for 20 years, while Iran insists on its right to enrichment and the lifting of sanctions. Despite Iranian state media rejecting negotiations, U.S. officials, including Vice President JD Vance, Middle East Envoy Steve Witkoff, and Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner, are preparing to travel to Islamabad for mediated talks, with the ceasefire set to expire on Wednesday.
