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U.S. Navy Intercepts and Boards Iranian-Flagged Cargo Ship in Gulf of Oman

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U.S. Navy Seizes Iranian-Flagged Ship in Gulf of Oman

On April 10, 2026, a U.S. Navy vessel fired upon and seized the Iranian-flagged cargo ship TOUSKA in the Gulf of Oman. The action was part of a U.S. naval blockade of ships entering and exiting Iranian ports that began the previous week. The incident occurred on the same day as a separate event where Iran fired upon commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz.

The Interception

According to statements from former U.S. President Donald Trump, the guided-missile destroyer USS Spruance ordered the TOUSKA to stop.

Trump stated that when the crew did not comply, the USS Spruance fired on the ship, damaging its engine room.

U.S. Marines subsequently boarded and took custody of the vessel to inspect its cargo. The TOUSKA is reported to be approximately 900 feet long.

A White House official confirmed that the ship is now in the custody of U.S. Marines. According to one report, this is the first known instance of U.S. forces boarding a ship during the current blockade; previous intercepted vessels had reportedly turned around. It is not confirmed if the TOUSKA is the first vessel seized under the blockade.

Background and Context

  • The TOUSKA is listed under U.S. Treasury sanctions due to prior activity deemed illegal by the United States.
  • The ship was last reported to be transiting the Arabian Sea before the incident.
  • The U.S. has been conducting a naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz and ships entering and exiting Iranian ports since the week prior to the incident.
  • U.S. Vice President JD Vance was scheduled to travel to Pakistan on April 11 for a second round of peace talks with Iranian officials.

Official Statements and Reactions

U.S. Position: President Trump stated that if Iran did not agree to U.S. terms to end the conflict, the U.S. would target "every single Power Plant, and every single Bridge, in Iran."

Iranian Position: Iran has cited the U.S. naval blockade as a breach of a prior ceasefire agreement.

According to a state media report, Iran has rebuffed the planned negotiations following the seizure.