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Trump Claims US Seizes Iranian Ship TOUSKA After Gulf of Oman Interception

US President Donald Trump announced that American forces have taken full custody of the Iranian-flagged cargo vessel TOUSKA after it was intercepted in the Gulf of Oman for allegedly attempting to breach a US naval blockade. Trump stated the USS Spruance stopped the ship after warnings were ignored and that US Marines now control the vessel, which is under US Treasury sanctions. The incident occurs amid heightened tensions, with Trump accusing Iran of violating a ceasefire and disrupting maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz. The US President also stated that American envoys will pursue final ceasefire negotiations with Iran, warning of severe consequences if a deal is not reached.

Key Points: US Takes Custody of Iranian Ship TOUSKA, Trump Says

  • US Navy intercepted Iranian cargo ship TOUSKA
  • Vessel allegedly breached naval blockade
  • Trump claims ship under US Treasury sanctions
  • Tensions high in Strait of Hormuz
  • Ceasefire negotiations with Iran pending
2 min read

Trump says US takes "full custody" of Iranian ship TOUSKA after interception

President Trump announces US forces intercepted and seized an Iranian cargo vessel in the Gulf of Oman, escalating regional tensions.

"We have full custody of the ship, and are seeing what's on board! - Donald Trump"

Washington DC, April 20

US President Donald Trump on Sunday claimed that American forces have taken full custody of an Iranian-flagged cargo vessel, TOUSKA, after it attempted to breach a US naval blockade in the Gulf of Oman.

The US President said that a nearly 900-foot-long cargo ship was intercepted by the US Navy Guided Missile Destroyer USS Spruance after it refused to comply with warnings.

"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. 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," President Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social.

He added that US Marines are currently in control of the vessel, which he claimed is under US Treasury sanctions due to alleged prior illegal activities.

"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! President DONALD J. TRUMP," the post further read.

Trump's remarks come amid heightened tensions in the Strait of Hormuz, with the US President accusing Iran of violating an ongoing ceasefire agreement and disrupting maritime traffic in the region.

In a separate statement, Trump alleged that Iran had fired upon vessels in the strategic waterway, calling it a "Total Violation of our Ceasefire Agreement."

The US President also announced that American representatives, including Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, will travel to Pakistan to pursue ceasefire negotiations with Iran, even as he warned of severe consequences if Tehran fails to agree to a deal.

"We're giving diplomacy one last chance... if Iran does not sign this deal... it will be my Honor to do what has to be done," Trump said.

The developments come as the two-week ceasefire window is nearing its end on April 22.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

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Priya S
Trump's language is so aggressive. "Blowing a hole in the engineroom" sounds like an act of war, not a policing action. I hope our MEA is closely monitoring this. India has good relations with both Iran and the US; we must urge restraint and dialogue.
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Aditya G
While the US action seems strong, we must remember Iran's history of destabilizing the region. If the ship was under sanctions for illegal activity, perhaps interception was necessary. But the timing, right before the ceasefire ends, is very provocative. Not a fan of this "my way or the highway" diplomacy.
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Sarah B
Sending Jared Kushner for negotiations? Seriously? This feels more like a reality TV show than international diplomacy. The stakes are too high for such theatrics. The world needs calm heads, not tweets and dramatic posts.
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Meera T
Our Chabahar port project with Iran is crucial for India's connectivity to Afghanistan and Central Asia. Any full-blown US-Iran conflict could jeopardize that strategic investment. Hope our diplomats are working backchannels to de-escalate.
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Vikram M
The US Navy intercepting a ship in international waters... where is the UN or international law in all this? It sets a worrying precedent. Might is not always right. As a rising power, India should advocate for a rules-based order, not unilateral actions.

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