The United States military has intercepted an Iranian cargo ship in the Gulf of Oman, President Donald Trump said on social media.
According to him, the Iranian-flagged vessel called TOUSKA was trying to break through a US-imposed naval blockade. It was intercepted by the US Navy missile destroyer USS Spruance.
The US military, according to Trump, “warned the crew to stop, but they refused to comply.” As a result, the US Navy ship opened fire and disabled the vessel, damaging the engine room.
After that, according to the president, US Marines took control of the vessel. He also noted that TOUSKA is under sanctions by the US Treasury Department because of previous illegal activities.
The US side is now checking the ship’s cargo. Iranian authorities have not yet publicly commented on Trump’s reports.
Trump ordered a naval blockade of Iran after U.S.-Iranian peace talks in Islamabad on 11-12 April failed to produce an agreement to end the war.
The truce, which began on 8 April, expires on 22 April.
The Strait of Hormuz, through which a fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas is routed, has been effectively closed due to US-Israeli air attacks on Iran that began on 28 February and Tehran’s strikes on targets in the Middle East, including ships in the Persian Gulf.