Iran strikes US vessels in retaliation for cargo ship’s seizure
Iranian forces launched drone strikes Sunday on multiple American vessels in retaliation for US forces firing on and intercepting an Iranian ship, according to local media.
The semi-official news agency Tasnim reported that after US forces boarded the container ship TOUSKA in the Gulf of Oman, Iranian drones were launched against American vessels, without specifying whether the targets were military or commercial.
Iran had confirmed earlier that US forces seized the Iranian vessel and warned that it would retaliate “soon”. It called the US action a violation of the Pakistan-brokered two-week ceasefire.
Fars News Agency, also semi-official, reported that the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters said US forces had targeted the vessel, disabled its navigation system and boarded it after what it claimed was a ceasefire violation.
Ship tracking data shows the TOUSKA departed Port Klang in Malaysia on April 12.
Iranian military spokesman Ebrahim Zolfaghari said US forces opened fire at the vessel before boarding it.
The incident was first announced by US President Donald Trump on Sunday and later confirmed by US Central Command (CENTCOM), which said the USS Spruance intercepted the Iranian-flagged cargo ship, which attempted to breach a US naval blockade in the Gulf of Oman.
According to CENTCOM, Marines continue to hold the vessel in US custody. It said in a statement that it was bound for the Iranian port of Bandar Abbas.
CENTCOM also released video footage on the US social media company X’s platform showing a US warship warning the vessel before firing.
Zolfaghari said “the aggressive United States, by violating the ceasefire and engaging in maritime piracy, attacked one of Iran’s vessels after disabling its navigation system.”
He added that US forces boarded the vessel after deploying “a number of terrorist marines” onto it.
“We warn that Iran’s military forces will soon respond to and retaliate against this armed act of piracy by the US military,” he said.
Never miss a moment! Get the stories shaping Nigeria, delivered straight to your phone. Follow Peoplesdaily Newspaper on WhatsApp for breaking news, exclusive reports, and the headlines everyone will be talking about, before anyone else.
