US Navy Seizes Iranian Cargo Ship in Arabian Sea After Warnings Ignored

In a significant military operation, US forces intercepted the Iranian cargo ship M/V Touska in the Arabian Sea after its crew ignored multiple warnings. The USS Spruance disabled the vessel's engine and took control, with Marines now aboard. President Trump confirmed the incident, highlighting the ship's previous sanctions and the ongoing US naval blockade. This operation underscores the tensions in the region and the US commitment to enforcing maritime security.

By Narendra Chaudhary Apr 20, 2026, 04:11 IST

US Forces Intercept Iranian Vessel

On Sunday, US military forces intercepted an Iranian cargo ship in the Arabian Sea after its crew failed to heed multiple warnings over a six-hour timeframe, as confirmed by US Central Command. The vessel, known as the M/V Touska, was en route to Bandar Abbas, Iran, when the USS Spruance, a guided-missile destroyer, moved in to intercept it. The ship is now under US control, with Marines from the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit currently aboard.

Details of the Incident

CENTCOM reported that the USS Spruance detected the Touska traveling at 17 knots through the northern Arabian Sea and issued several warnings regarding its violation of the US naval blockade. After six hours of non-compliance, the Spruance took decisive action.

The Spruance instructed the crew to evacuate the engine room and subsequently disabled the Touska's propulsion system by firing several rounds from its 5-inch MK 45 gun into the engine room. Once the ship was rendered immobile, US Marines boarded the vessel. CENTCOM characterized the operation as executed in a "deliberate, professional, and proportional manner." The military also noted that since the blockade's initiation, US forces have redirected or turned away 25 commercial vessels attempting to reach Iranian ports.

Trump's Remarks

President Trump announced the ship's seizure on Truth Social prior to CENTCOM's official statement, describing the incident in straightforward terms. He stated, "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 confirmed that the USS Spruance intercepted the vessel in the Gulf of Oman, noting that the crew ignored warnings and that Navy forces had "blew a hole in the engine room" to halt its progress. He also mentioned that the Touska is currently under US Treasury sanctions due to its previous illegal activities, adding, "We have full custody of the ship, and are seeing what's on board!"