The United States has taken control of an Iranian-flagged cargo ship near the Strait of Hormuz by causing damage to the vessel, according to a statement by former President Donald Trump. Trump announced on Truth Social that the ship, named the Touska, attempted to bypass the Naval Blockade on Sunday, leading to a confrontation with US Marines in the Gulf of Oman. This incident marked the first interception since the US initiated the blockade of Iranian ports the previous week.
Trump mentioned that the Iranian crew disregarded warnings, prompting the US Navy to halt the vessel by creating a breach in the engine room. The ship, TOUSKA, was under US Treasury Sanctions due to past illegal activities. The US now has complete custody of the ship and is in the process of inspecting its contents. Iran has not issued an immediate response to this development.
Iran perceives the US blockade of its maritime traffic as a breach of the ongoing ceasefire. Earlier on the same day, Iran rejected a second round of peace negotiations with the US. Trump had earlier indicated that US negotiators would engage in talks in Islamabad and threatened severe action against Iran if an agreement was not reached.
The absence of Tehran from the negotiations was attributed to Washington’s alleged unreasonable demands and shifting positions, as well as the continuous naval blockade. The situation raised doubts on the continuation of talks that were expected to extend the fragile ceasefire set to expire soon.
Despite Iran’s commitment to diplomacy, significant differences persisted between the two parties. The US delegation to Pakistan for talks was to be led by Vice-President JD Vance, along with special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, following the first round of talks.
Iran confirmed receiving new proposals from the US but the status of negotiations on critical issues such as Iran’s nuclear program, regional influence, and control over the Strait of Hormuz remained uncertain.