US Navy Seizes Iranian Cargo Ship Near Strait of Hormuz

In a significant development, President Donald Trump announced that US forces have seized an Iranian-flagged cargo vessel, the TOUSKA, near the Strait of Hormuz. This incident follows a warning from the US Navy and comes amid heightened tensions in the region, with maritime traffic reportedly slowing dramatically. The USS Spruance intercepted the vessel, leading to US Marines taking control. As the situation unfolds, the implications for global energy supplies and regional stability remain critical. Read on to discover more about this escalating maritime conflict.

By Narendra Chaudhary Apr 20, 2026, 01:33 IST

US Forces Intercept Iranian Vessel

On Sunday, President Donald Trump announced that American forces had captured an Iranian-flagged cargo ship attempting to navigate through what he termed a U.S. naval blockade in the Strait of Hormuz, a vital passage for global energy transport. In a message shared on Truth Social, Trump stated that the USS Spruance, a guided-missile destroyer, intercepted the vessel known as the TOUSKA in the Gulf of Oman. He mentioned, "The US Navy Guided Missile Destroyer USS SPRUANCE intercepted the TOUSKA in the Gulf of Oman, and gave them fair warning to stop." According to Trump, the Iranian crew ignored the warning, prompting the Navy to take decisive action by damaging the ship's engine room. He further revealed that U.S. Marines had boarded the vessel and assumed control, stating, "Currently, US Marines have custody of the vessel. The TOUSKA is under US Treasury Sanctions due to its previous illegal activities. We have full custody of the ship and are investigating its contents!"

This announcement coincided with a noticeable decrease in maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, with no tankers reported to have crossed on Sunday, marking one of the quietest days in the strait amid rising regional tensions. This decline followed a Saturday declaration from Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, which stated that the strait had been closed to traffic once again. Earlier on Sunday, two sanctioned tankers carrying liquefied petroleum gas were reportedly turned back by Iranian military forces as they attempted to leave the Persian Gulf, according to a news agency linked to the Iranian government. Ship tracking data and footage from Marine Tracker indicated a gathering of vessels on both sides of the strait, with ships clustered near the entrance. Some vessels were seen circling in adjacent waters instead of attempting to navigate through the channel, while a limited number of ships, mainly tugboats or those flying the Iranian flag, were observed entering the waterway.