“Today, an Iranian-flagged cargo ship named TOUSKA, nearly 900 feet long and weighing almost as much as an aircraft carrier, tried to get past our naval blockade, and it did not go well for them. The Iranian crew refused to listen, so our Navy ship stopped them right in their tracks by blowing a hole in the engine room. Right now, US Marines have custody of the vessel.
Back to stories
US Navy Fires On and Seizes Iranian Cargo Ship Touska
April 19, 2026
The US Navy guided-missile destroyer USS Spruance intercepted the Iranian-flagged cargo ship Touska in the Gulf of Oman on April 19, 2026 — the first forcible seizure since the US naval blockade of Iranian ports began. After six hours of warnings, Spruance fired on the Touska's engine room to disable it; US Marines then boarded and took custody. Trump announced on Truth Social that "it did not go well for them" and threatened to "take out their bridges and their power plants" if Iran doesn't sign a deal before the ceasefire expires Wednesday. Iran's joint military command accused the US of "armed piracy" and "violating the ceasefire," vowing the armed forces "will soon respond and retaliate." The seizure threw planned Islamabad peace talks into doubt, with Iran declining to confirm its participation. Iran's parliament speaker Ghalibaf declared it "impossible for others to pass through the Strait of Hormuz while we cannot."
7
Statements Recorded
See what your representatives said?
7 Statements
“Iran decided to fire bullets yesterday in the Strait of Hormuz — A Total Violation of our Ceasefire Agreement! If the deal isn't done, the deal that we made, then I'm going to take out their bridges and their power plants. If they don't sign this thing, the whole country is going to get blown up.
“We have full custody of the ship, and are seeing what's on board!
“Prices have likely peaked and they'll start going down. Certainly with a resolution of this conflict, prices across the board on energy prices will go down.
“Trump is doing the right thing to ensure Iran never obtains a nuclear weapon.
“The foreign minister says it's open. The IRGC says it closed. Regardless, it's the U.S. Navy and President Trump as the commander-in-chief that decides what ultimately comes in and comes out.
“It is impossible for others to pass through the Strait of Hormuz while we cannot.