Update: Trump says U.S. has intercepted, taken custody of Iranian-flagged cargo ship

Xinhua
20 Apr 2026, 06:15 GMT+10

NEW YORK, April 19 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump said on Sunday that U.S. forces have intercepted and taken custody of an Iranian-flagged cargo ship that tried to bypass its blockade in the Gulf of Oman.

"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 in a post on his social media Truth Social.

A U.S. destroyer intercepted the TOUSKA in the Gulf of Oman, and "gave them fair warning to stop," Trump added. "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."

Iran has attacked U.S. military ships in retaliation for the U.S. seizure of its vessel, according to latest news reports.

Earlier, Iran's Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters warned that it will "soon respond" to the U.S. "armed maritime piracy," according to Iran's Press TV.

Iran's official news agency IRNA said on Sunday that the country has rejected taking part in the second round of the peace talks with the United States, which were reportedly to be held in Pakistan soon.

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