Strait of Hormuz tensions rise as US Navy opens fire on Iran-bound cargo vessel
A US guided-missile destroyer, the USS Spruance, opened fire on an Iranian-flagged cargo vessel heading towards Bandar Abbas, according to US Central Command (CENTCOM), as the United States continues its blockade of Iranian ports.
The incident follows Iran’s announcement that it was again closing the Strait of Hormuz, a key maritime route.
Video released on Monday, April 20, shows US Marines issuing a warning to the vessel to vacate the engine room, followed by the USS Spruance firing multiple shots at the ship. The exact date and location of the footage shared by CENTCOM cannot be independently verified.
CENTCOM said the vessel, identified as the M/V Touska, was travelling through the north Arabian Sea at a speed of 17 knots en route to Bandar Abbas in Iran.
"After Touska’s crew failed to comply with repeated warnings over a six-hour period, Spruance directed the vessel to evacuate its engine room," CENTCOM said in a statement.
US President Donald Trump stated that US Marines had taken control of the vessel after issuing what he described as a fair warning to comply with the blockade.
"The TOUSKA is under U.S. Treasury Sanctions because of their prior history of illegal activity. We have full custody of the ship, and are seeing what’s on board!" he added.
The development comes as Pakistan prepares to host a second round of peace talks between the United States and Iran aimed at ending a weeks-long conflict that has affected the wider region. Both sides have accused each other of violating a ceasefire.
This story is written and edited by the Global South World team, you can contact us here.
