US seizes Iranian ship Touska during ongoing diplomatic negotiations

US Military Seizes Iranian Container Ship in Strait of Hormuz

The United States military seized an Iranian container ship, Touska, near the Gulf on Monday morning. The incident occurred hours before scheduled talks between the US and Iran in Pakistan aimed at ending their ongoing conflict.

According to the US Central Command (CENTCOM), the USS Spruance guided-missile destroyer fired its 5-inch MK 45 gun at the ship’s engine room, disabling it. The Touska was attempting to cross from the Arabian Sea through the Strait of Hormuz and was headed to the Iranian port of Bandar Abbas.

The US military had imposed a naval blockade on the Strait of Hormuz since April 13, in response to Iran blocking the passage of most vessels through the narrow waterway. The blockade has barred ships belonging to Iran or traveling to or from Iranian ports from passing through the strait.

Iranian officials described the attack as an act of “piracy” and threatened retribution. The Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson, Esmaeil Baghaei, stated that Tehran had no plans to send its negotiators to Islamabad for talks with the US.

The Touska is a 294m-long container ship that flies under the Iranian flag. It has been under sanctions issued by the US Treasury Department and the US Office of Foreign Assets Control, accused of helping Iran break sanctions. The vessel’s cargo is currently unknown.

US Marines from the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit captured the ship after it was disabled by the USS Spruance. The incident marks the first non-military Iranian ship seized by the US military during the current conflict and the first Iranian cargo vessel captured since the start of the week-long naval blockade.

Source: Al Jazeera