Trump says US forces seized Iranian flagged vessel after blockade breach in Gulf of Oman

The US military has seized an Iranian-flagged container ship after it attempted to breach an American naval blockade near the Strait of Hormuz, President Donald Trump said on Sunday.

In a social media post, Trump said the vessel ignored warnings from a US Navy destroyer in the Gulf of Oman.

“Iranian-flagged cargo ship named TOUSKA” tried to get past the blockade, “and it did not go well for them,” Trump said.

“[Our] Navy ship stopped them right in their tracks by blowing a hole in the engine room,” Trump said, noting that US marines have since taken custody of the vessel.

“The TOUSKA is under U.S. Treasury Sanctions because of their prior history of illegal activity,” he said.

Video released by the US Department of Defense showed the interception, including warnings issued to the crew.

“Vacate your engine room. We’re prepared to subject you to disabling fire,” a US sailor can be heard saying.

Footage also showed the USS Spruance firing on the ship.

The vessel was intercepted near Iran’s border with Pakistan. According to tracking data, it had departed from Port Klang in Malaysia before approaching the blockade.