U.S. Navy sailors fired on an Iranian-flagged cargo ship in the Gulf of Oman after it ignored repeated warnings to stop, blowing holes in its engine room and forcing it to a halt. Marines then boarded the vessel, took custody of the ship and its crew, and secured the vessel.
President Donald Trump announced the operation on Truth Social on Sunday, April 19. He said the large cargo ship TOUSKA, operating under Iranian sanctions, tried to run the U.S. naval blockade near the Strait of Hormuz.
The USS Spruance, a guided-missile destroyer, intercepted the ship after it left Iranian waters and refused to turn back.
“Warnings were given. The ship did not stop,” Trump wrote. “Our Navy put rounds into the engine room. The ship is now under U.S. control. This is what happens when you test America.”
The incident constitutes a sharp escalation in the U.S. blockade of Iranian ports, which began last week after peace talks in Pakistan collapsed with no agreement.
A blockade enforced by the U.S. Navy
The blockade aims to choke off Iran’s oil exports and limit its shipping in the region. More than a dozen U.S. warships and 10,000 sailors, Marines, and airmen are involved.
U.S. Central Command confirmed earlier this week that Navy destroyers, including the Spruance based in San Diego, had already turned back multiple Iranian-linked vessels without force. In those cases, ships complied after radio warnings. The TOUSKA was different.
According to details, the Spruance hailed the TOUSKA several times. The Iranian ship kept moving. Navy teams then fired precision shots into the engine room to disable propulsion without sinking the vessel or causing major casualties.
No U.S. personnel were hurt during this confrontation, which spells a massive blow to Iran, which is already suffering economically since the U.S. blockade started.
Marines boarded the ship shortly after it stopped and secured it. The vessel is now in U.S. custody and is headed for further inspection.
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The TOUSKA is described as a large cargo ship subject to U.S. sanctions for its ties to Iran’s shipping network. Trump said it was trying to slip past the blockade along the Iranian coastline after exiting the Strait of Hormuz.
This is the first reported case of the U.S. Navy using direct fire to enforce the blockade since the blockade began. Earlier actions involved warnings and redirection.
The blockade targets all vessels entering or leaving Iranian ports, regardless of flag. Its goal is to stop the flow of oil and goods that help fund Iran’s activities.
Iran exported nearly two million barrels of oil a day before the blockade began. That trade has now been halted at sea.
U.S. officials have said the blockade is legal and limited. Ships not bound for Iranian ports can still pass through the Strait of Hormuz. The Navy has broadcast warnings to all mariners: turn around or face boarding and seizure.
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President Trump revealed that the U.S. Navy used the Spruance to accomplish the mission. It is an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer that uses its advanced radar and weapons systems. It can track dozens of targets at once and has a crew of more than 300 trained sailors.
Iran has not issued an official statement on the TOUSKA incident as of Sunday afternoon.
The country’s navy has suffered ship losses in the early days of the clashes with U.S. and Israeli forces, although direct confrontations in the Gulf have been rare in recent days.
Meanwhile, U.S. forces remain on high alert. Navy ships continue to patrol the area, ready to intercept any other vessels that attempt to breach the blockade.
This is happening ahead of the highly anticipated second round of talks between the U.S.and Iran. The first round did not yield the desired deal.
Trump has threatened to strike all power plants and bridges in Iran if a deal is not achieved after the talks.
