The United States intercepted an Iranian-flagged cargo vessel in the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday after it allegedly attempted to bypass a naval blockade, marking a sharp escalation in tensions in the region.
According to US Central Command (CENTCOM), the guided missile destroyer USS Spruance engaged the vessel, identified as TOUSKA, after repeated warnings went unheeded. In footage released by CENTCOM, US personnel can be heard issuing a final warning: “Vacate your engine room… we’re prepared to disable you,” before opening fire.
CENTCOM said the destroyer fired multiple rounds from its 5-inch MK 45 gun into the ship’s engine room, disabling its propulsion. US Marines from the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit subsequently boarded the vessel, which has since been placed under American custody.
US President Donald Trump confirmed the operation, stating that the ship had ignored clear instructions to stop. In a social media post, he said the Navy “stopped them right in their tracks” and added that the vessel, already under US Treasury sanctions, is now in “full custody” as authorities inspect its cargo.
Iran condemned the incident, calling it an act of aggression. In response, Iranian forces reportedly launched drones toward US warships in the region. State-linked media outlets, including Press TV, said the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed US forces were forced to retreat following the confrontation.
The incident comes amid heightened hostilities after Washington imposed a naval blockade on Iran following the breakdown of a joint US-Israel military campaign earlier this year. Although Iran had briefly eased restrictions on non-hostile shipping in an apparent de-escalation move, the latest developments appear to have reversed that course.
In a significant escalation, the IRGC Navy announced that Iran has closed the Strait of Hormuz, citing continued US enforcement of the blockade despite a ceasefire declaration on April 8. The move raises serious concerns for global energy markets, as the strategic waterway is a critical route for a large share of the world’s oil shipments.
