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By Steve Mollman
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President Donald Trump wrote in a Truth Social post on Sunday U.S. forces intercepted and took custody of an Iranian‑flagged cargo ship after it attempted to breach a U.S. naval blockade in the Gulf of Oman, a development that could further heighten tensions as the conflict with Iran continues.
Tasnim, an Iranian outlet linked to the country’s security establishment, responded on Telegram (translated): "We warn that the Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran will soon respond and retaliate for this armed piracy by the U.S. military."
Why It Matters
The incident comes as shipping through key Middle East waterways remains severely disrupted following weeks of confrontation tied to the Iran war. The U.S. has implemented a naval blockade on Iranian ports as part of its pressure campaign, warning commercial vessels against attempts to transit restricted areas without authorization. Iran meanwhile closed the Strait of Hormuz again on Saturday—just one day after saying it was open—in response to the U.S. not lifting its ports blockade.
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Energy markets and global shipping have been on edge amid the standoff, with tankers and cargo ships rerouting or delaying travel through the region. Any escalation involving commercial vessels risks further tightening global supply routes, particularly near the Strait of Hormuz, a critical corridor for oil and gas shipments. Oil prices rose in early trading on Sunday.
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What To Know
Trump wrote on Truth Social on Sunday that the vessel—identified as the Touska—ignored warnings from U.S. forces and was ultimately disabled by the U.S. Navy before being boarded by Marines. He said the ship is now under full U.S. control and is being inspected.
“Today, an Iranian‑flagged cargo ship named TOUSKA … tried to get past our Naval Blockade, and it did not go well for them,” Trump wrote. He said the U.S. Navy guided‑missile destroyer USS Spruance intercepted the vessel in the Gulf of Oman and issued warnings that were not heeded.
According to Trump, U.S. forces stopped the ship by disabling its engine room. He said U.S. Marines now have custody of the vessel.
Trump also claimed the Touska was already under U.S. Treasury sanctions due to what he described as a history of “illegal activity,” adding that American forces were determining what the ship was carrying.
U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) shared its own account of the incident after Trump's announcement, writing on X:
"After Touska’s crew failed to comply with repeated warnings over a six-hour period, Spruance directed the vessel to evacuate its engine room. Spruance disabled Touska’s propulsion by firing several rounds from the destroyer’s 5-inch MK 45 Gun into Touska’s engine room. U.S. Marines from the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit later boarded the non-compliant vessel, which remains in U.S. custody."
It added that U.S. forces "have directed 25 commercial vessels to turn around or return to an Iranian port" since the American blockade began.
CENTCOM also shared a video showing Marines rappelling onto the Touska.
Meanwhile, a Newsweek analysis shows the Touska has made many visits to ports in China.
Iranian officials said on Sunday they were holding firm that ships wouldn’t pass through the Strait of Hormuz while the blockade was in effect. The U.K. Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said on Saturday that it had received reports of a tanker coming under fire from gunboats linked to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps near the strait.
“It is impossible for others to pass through the Strait of Hormuz while we cannot,” parliament speaker Mohammed Bagher Qalibaf said, the Associated Press reported.
What Happens Next
The fragile ceasefire between the U.S.-Iran is set to expire on Wednesday, April 22. The U.S. is sending a delegation to Islamabad for another round of talks, led by Vice President JD Vance with Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner.
Update 4/20/26, 3:05 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information.
Update 4/20/26, 10:21 a.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information.
Update 4/19/26, 6:53 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information.
Update 4/19/26, 6:30 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information.
Update 4/19/26, 5:58 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information.
Update 4/19/26, 4:58 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information.
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