US Navy Captures Iranian-Flagged Vessel in the Gulf of Oman

President Donald Trump announced on Sunday that the U.S. Navy has fired on and captured an Iranian-flagged ship that was allegedly attempting to thwart the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

In a post on Truth Social from April 12, Trump declared a blockade of this critical maritime route, stating that vessels paying Iranian tolls with Chinese yuan or cryptocurrencies would be seized by the Navy. The USS Spruance, an Arleigh Burke-class missile destroyer, opened fire on the cargo ship Tuska in the Gulf of Oman, reportedly creating a breach in its engine room, according to Trump.

He stated, “Today, the Iranian-flagged cargo ship TOUSKA, almost 900 feet long and comparable in weight to an aircraft carrier, tried to breach our naval blockade but failed. The USS Spruance intercepted the Tuska, giving them clear warnings to stop. When the crew did not comply, our Navy took action, making their engine room unable to function.”

Furthermore, President Trump added that, “The U.S. Marine Corps is currently in custody of this ship. The TOUSKA is under U.S. Treasury Department sanctions due to its previous illegal activities. We have full control of the vessel and are monitoring what’s onboard.”

The Arleigh Burke-class missile destroyers possess advanced weaponry, including 5-inch guns and the capacity for various missile types. However, Trump didn’t specify the exact method used to stop the Tuska.

This incident follows shortly after two Iranian gunboats fired upon a British tanker in the Strait, which Iran claimed was under “strict control.” On April 9, Iran had announced it would permit a limited number of vessels to pass, provided they paid a toll of $1 per barrel in either yuan or virtual currency, while also asserting that they had laid mines—though they admitted uncertainty about their precise locations.

In his April 12 message, Trump warned that the U.S. Navy would be responsible for removing those mines. He declared, “Effective immediately, the U.S. Navy, the best in the world, will start blocking all vessels trying to navigate the Strait of Hormuz. Eventually, there will be a standard for safe passage, but Iran isn’t facilitating that when they raise concerns about potential mines.” He framed the situation as “global blackmail,” emphasizing that the U.S. would not be coerced.

Requests for comments from U.S. Central Command, the Department of the Army, and the White House regarding the incident went unanswered immediately.

This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.