Iran Threatens Retaliation After US Intercepts Cargo Ship in Gulf Blockade Operation

Mintesinot Nigussie

Iran has threatened retaliation after the United States intercepted an Iranian cargo vessel in the Gulf, an incident President Donald Trump said formed part of an ongoing US naval blockade. Tehran described the move as a violation of a ceasefire arrangement, accusing Washington of what it called “armed piracy” and warning that a response would follow “soon”.

Trump said on his Truth Social platform that the vessel, named Touska, was stopped by the US Navy after ignoring warnings to halt. He added that the ship was already under US Treasury sanctions due to previous activity. According to his account, US forces fired on the vessel after it failed to comply, saying the action damaged the engine room and left the ship under US control.

The US Central Command later released footage it said showed a naval interception of a cargo ship at sea, including imagery of weapons fire directed towards the vessel. The authenticity of the footage has not been independently verified. Iran rejected the US version of events. A spokesperson for the country’s Khatam al-Anbiya military headquarters said American forces had opened fire in the Sea of Oman, disabled the ship’s navigation system, and boarded it using marines deployed during the operation.

The spokesperson said the vessel was a commercial ship and accused the US of violating the ceasefire agreement, adding that Iran’s armed forces would respond with retaliatory measures. The maritime incident comes amid heightened tensions following weeks of conflict involving the United States and Israel across Iran, which began with strikes on February 28 and escalated through exchanges across the Middle East before a temporary truce was declared.

Washington has said it imposed a naval blockade following earlier negotiations that failed to produce an agreement, with Trump stating that restrictions would remain until a deal is reached with Tehran. Key disputes remain unresolved, including Iran’s nuclear programme and control over the Strait of Hormuz, a critical route for global oil shipments.

Overall, Iran’s threat of retaliation after the US interception of a cargo ship in the Gulf blockade operation underscores the fragile nature of the current ceasefire and the risk of further escalation in the region.