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Escalation in the Gulf: US forces seize Iranian vessel as Iran restricts the Strait of Hormuz

On April 19, the United States Navy destroyer USS Spruance intercepted the Iranian-flagged cargo ship Touska in the Arabian Sea as it allegedly attempted to breach a US naval blockade near Bandar Abbas. After six hours of failed warnings, the US vessel fired upon the Touska's engine room, subsequently boarding the ship with Marines. US President Donald Trump confirmed the incident, stating the vessel remains under US surveillance. In retaliation, Iran announced the renewed closure of the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz and warned that unauthorized vessels would be targeted. Iranian forces were reported to have fired upon several commercial ships, including two Indian-flagged tankers, and forced other vessels to change course. Iranian parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf declared the blockade an act of piracy and warned that passage through the strait would remain restricted until the US lifts its measures against Iranian ports. This escalation follows approximately 50 days of conflict and threatens to disrupt global oil supplies as a fragile truce approaches its expiration date on April 21.

Original Sources

Trump: US military to remain near Tehran
Sigmalive English · 9 April 2026, 10:12
Trump urges Iran to make a deal before it’s too late
Sigmalive English · 3 April 2026, 09:40