Trump says US Navy blasted Iranian ship in blockade breach, now in US custody

WASHINGTON, DC: President Donald Trump said Sunday, April 19, that US naval forces disabled an Iranian-flagged cargo vessel attempting to break the American blockade near the Strait of Hormuz, declaring the ship was now under US control.

In a dramatic Truth Social post, Trump claimed the Navy “blew a hole in the engineroom” after the crew ignored warnings, marking another sharp escalation in the standoff with Tehran.

Trump details confrontation at sea

According to Trump, the vessel identified as the TOUSKA was intercepted in the Gulf of Oman by the USS Spruance after trying to push through the blockade zone.

“Today, an Iranian-flagged cargo ship named TOUSKA tried to get past our Naval Blockade, and it did not go well for them,” Trump wrote.

He said US forces issued warnings before taking action.

“The Iranian crew refused to listen, so our Navy ship stopped them right in their tracks by blowing a hole in the engineroom,” Trump added.

The president further claimed American forces had boarded the ship and taken control.

“We have full custody of the ship, and are seeing what’s on board!” he wrote.

Trump also alleged the vessel was already under US Treasury sanctions tied to previous illegal activity, though no independent confirmation was immediately available.

Iranian authorities had not publicly commented on Trump’s account at the time of filing this story.

It was also unclear whether there were injuries aboard the vessel or whether any cargo had been seized.

The reported maritime clash comes as tensions remain high around the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most strategically important energy chokepoints.

Any military encounter in surrounding waters risks jolting shipping markets and raising fears of escalation in the conflict.

US-Iran tensions continue to peak

On April 17, Donald Trump said the Strait of Hormuz had effectively reopened, signaling the crisis was easing.

However, developments the next day told a different story.

Reports of renewed closures, rerouted ships, and fresh maritime threats cast doubt on stability.

Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said Iran shut the strait over a continued US “blockade,” while Iranian forces were accused of targeting vessels, raising fears tensions were escalating again.

Earlier Sunday, Trump even told Fox News that Islamabad talks were Tehran's 'last chance' to mend ways, adding if leaders refuse a deal, “the whole country is getting blown up.”