Trump: U.S. Military Intercepts and Controls an Iranian Cargo Ship

On April 19, Xinhua News Agency reported from Washington that in the afternoon of the 19th Eastern Time, U.S. President Trump posted on social media, stating that the U.S. military had forcefully intercepted and controlled an Iranian cargo ship attempting to breach the U.S. naval blockade in the Gulf of Oman.

Trump said the cargo ship, named "TOUSKA," flies the Iranian flag, is nearly 900 feet (274 meters) long, and weighs as much as an aircraft carrier. The U.S. Navy destroyer "Spruance" intercepted the cargo ship in the Gulf of Oman, demanding it to stop, but the crew of the cargo ship refused to comply with U.S. orders. The U.S. ship "blew a hole in the cargo ship's engine room," forcing it to stop. Currently, U.S. Marines have taken control of the vessel.

Trump stated that the "TOUSKA" cargo ship is under sanctions from the U.S. Department of the Treasury. The U.S. military "has fully controlled the ship and is inspecting the cargo on board."

The U.S. Wall Street Journal reported on the 18th, citing U.S. officials, that the U.S. military plans to board and seize oil tankers and merchant ships associated with Iran that are operating in international waters within the next few days, expanding the scope of naval strike operations beyond the Middle East.

Iranian Navy Commander Shahram Irani stated on the 17th that the U.S. maritime blockade against Iran is essentially "piracy."