Iran threatens retaliation after U.S. seizes cargo vessel in Gulf of Oman

Iran has threatened retaliation after accusing the United States of violating the ceasefire and committing “maritime piracy” by firing at an Iranian commercial vessel in the Gulf of Oman and sending Marines aboard. The U.S. military said it seized the ship after it refused to comply with blockade orders.

The incident happened on Sunday as the Iranian-flagged cargo vessel M/V Touska was sailing through the north Arabian Sea toward Bandar Abbas, Iran. U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said the guided-missile destroyer USS Spruance intercepted the ship and warned its crew that it was violating the U.S. naval blockade.

Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, the command that coordinates Iran’s armed forces, accused the United States of violating the ceasefire and attacking an Iranian commercial vessel in the Gulf of Oman by opening fire on it, disabling its navigation system and landing what it called “terrorist” Marines on deck.

It warned that Iran’s armed forces will “soon” respond and retaliate for what it described as armed maritime theft.

CENTCOM said the Touska ignored repeated warnings and continued toward Bandar Abbas for about six hours. It said the USS Spruance then ordered the crew to evacuate the engine room before firing several rounds that disabled the ship’s propulsion.

U.S. Marines from the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit later boarded the vessel, which is now in U.S. custody, according to CENTCOM. No U.S. personnel were reported injured during the operation.

President Trump said in a social media post that the Touska tried to get past the naval blockade and that “it did not go well for them.” He said the Iranian crew refused to stop and that the Navy ship disabled it by “blowing a hole in the engineroom.”

“The TOUSKA is under U.S. Treasury Sanctions because of their prior history of illegal activity,” Trump added. “We have full custody of the ship, and are seeing what’s on board!”