US seizes Iranian-flagged cargo ship for blockade violation

US seizes Iranian-flagged cargo ship for blockade violation

The United States captured the M/V Touska, an Iranian-flagged cargo ship that was violating a naval blockade, and the USS Spruance fired a 5-inch MK45 gun and had Marines on board.

U.S. forces seized the Iranian-flagged cargo ship M/V Touska as it attempted to sail toward an Iranian port on April 19, 2026, in violation of the U.S. naval blockade. This operation was first announced by U.S. President Donald Trump on social media and then confirmed by the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) through a statement and media.

what’s going on

According to CENTCOM, the M/V Touska was transiting the northern Arabian Sea at 17 knots en route to Bandar Abbas, Iran. The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Spruance (DDG 111) was dispatched to intercept the ship, and Central Command said it “issued multiple warnings and notified the Iranian-flagged vessel that it was violating the U.S. blockade.”

The command said the warnings were repeated over a six-hour period and were not followed by Touska’s crew. At the end of that period, USS Spruance communicated with the ship again and instructed the crew to evacuate the engine room before disabling the fire.

This can be heard in a video released by CENTCOM: “Power ship Touska, motor ship Touska, vacate the engine room. We are prepared to disable you.” The American ships again used their horns to signal the Iranian ships while sailing alongside them.

USS Spruance then fired her 5-inch MK 45 guns, firing several rounds “into Touska’s engine room.” The firing portion of the video shows the two ships firing three shells at greater intervals, but it is unclear whether more shells were fired in the footage.

U.S. Marines assigned to the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit later boarded the M/V Touska. Video later released by CENTCOM showed two MH-60S Seahawk helicopters from USS Tripoli (LHA 7) being used to transport a Visit, Board, Search, and Seizure (VBSS) team that swooped on the Iranian vessel at night, which is now in U.S. custody.

“U.S. forces acted in a prudent, professional, and proportionate manner to ensure compliance,” CENTCOM said. “Since the blockade began, the U.S. military has ordered 25 merchant ships to divert or return to Iranian ports.”

ongoing negotiations

Following the ceasefire between the United States and Iran, negotiations are underway to find a diplomatic solution to the conflict. These negotiations were intermittent, with Pakistan acting as a mediator and hosting a delegation in Islamabad.

According to the Iranian delegation: Reuters“Both sides have made progress, but they are still far apart on the nuclear issue and the (Strait of Hormuz) issue,” he said. But Iranian state media reported that Tehran had rejected new talks.

The U.S. delegation is scheduled to attend this meeting on the 20th of next month. In addition to Special Envoy Steve Wittkoff and Jared Kushner, this delegation is likely to include Vice President JD Vance.

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The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Spruance (DDG 111) departs Naval Station San Diego for routine operations Nov. 21, 2025. (Image credit: U.S. Navy photo courtesy of Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Nettie Mae Manfull)

Meanwhile, President Trump threatened to destroy all of Iran’s bridges and power plants if the country refuses to serve his term again. Iran, on the other hand, threatened to respond by attacking power plants and desalination plants in countries near the Gulf Coast.

The naval blockade was imposed after the first round of negotiations on April 11 and 12 failed. From the next day, the Central Command began blocking all maritime traffic in and out of Iranian ports following President Trump’s remarks.

Iran condemned the blockade as illegal and piracy, and later threatened that if the safety of Iranian ports was threatened, “no port in the Persian Gulf and Arabian Sea will be safe.” It is still unclear how much impact the blockade will have on the talks.

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