Over the weekend, Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz once again in response to the U.S.’s reluctance to disengage its naval blockade of Iranian ports along the Gulf of Oman. The Islamic Republic proceeded to fire on vessels that attempted to pass the maritime chokepoint.
According to The Associated Press (AP), Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy affirmed that “no vessel should make any movement from its anchorage in the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman, and approaching the Strait of Hormuz will be considered as cooperation with the enemy” and will be targeted.
U.S. Seizes Iranian Vessel During Blockade
In a social media post following the waterway’s closure, President Trump revealed that the U.S. seized an Iranian-flagged vessel in the Gulf of Oman that attempted to bypass the impasse.
The U.S. Navy Guided Missile Destroyer USS SPRUANCE intercepted the TOUSKA in the Gulf of Oman and gave them fair warning to stop,” President Trump wrote on Truth Social. “Right now, U.S. Marines have custody of the vessel. The TOUSKA is under U.S. Treasury Sanctions because of their prior history of illegal activity,” he added.
According to The Wall Street Journal (WSJ), the M/V TOUSKA belongs to a subsidiary of the Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines (IRISL). The vessel was reportedly returning to Iran after visiting China in March.
The Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines has previously been accused of carrying items with potential military capabilities to Tehran.
The TOUSKA was sanctioned in 2018, during President Trump’s first term, due to its connection to the IRISL and as part of the Trump administration’s pressure campaign against the Islamic Republic. More than 700 aircraft, entities, individuals, and ships were designated alongside the TOUSKA.
The standoff along the waterway comes after Iran announced the Strait of Hormuz’s reopening. Iran’s announcement took place amid a 10-day truce between Israel and the Iranian-backed Hezbollah militant proxy in Lebanon, as well as a ceasefire between the U.S. and the Islamic Republic.
