Marines from the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit of the U.S. boarded and seized the Iranian-flagged cargo ship M/V Touska in the northern Arabian Sea this Sunday, in the first physical seizure since the U.S. naval blockade against Iranian ports went into effect.
The guided missile destroyer USS Spruance (DDG 111) intercepted the Touska while it was sailing at 17 knots bound for the Iranian port of Bandar Abbas, coming from Malaysia.
The U.S. forces issued multiple warnings over a period of six hours that the ship's crew completely ignored.
Before the boarding, the Spruance ordered the evacuation of the engine room. The audio recording of the communications captures the warning: "Motor Vessel Tosca, motor vessel Tosca. Evacuate your engine room, evacuate your engine room. We are prepared to subject you to disabling fire."
Following the crew's refusal, the destroyer fired several rounds from its five-inch MK 45 gun at the propulsion compartment of the Touska, rendering the vessel inoperable.
Subsequently, the Marines departed by helicopter from the amphibious assault ship USS Tripoli (LHA 7) and , taking custody of the vessel, which remains under U.S. control.
The U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) specified that "U.S. forces acted deliberately, professionally, and proportionately to ensure compliance."
The M/V Touska is a cargo ship approximately 275 meters long that is listed on the sanctions by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) of the Department of the Treasury due to its previous history of illegal activities, as confirmed by President Donald Trump.
Since the beginning of the blockade, U.S. forces had instructed 25 commercial ships to turn around or return to Iranian ports, but the Touska was the first to actively resist the orders.
The naval blockade was ordered by Trump on April 12 through a presidential proclamation, following the collapse of negotiations regarding the Iranian nuclear program, and came into effect the next day. The operation involves more than a dozen warships, over 100 aircraft, and approximately 10,000 sailors, marines, and aviators.
The approach comes at a moment of extreme tension: the ceasefire agreed upon on April 8, mediated by Pakistan, expires on April 22, and a second round of negotiations led by Vice President JD Vance has just begun today in Islamabad.
Iran described the boarding as armed piracy and accused the U.S. of violating the current ceasefire.
The Iranian military command Khatam Al-Anbiya warned that "the armed forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran will soon respond and retaliate against this armed piracy and the U.S. military."
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