Iran Vows Retaliation After US Destroyer Fires on Cargo Ship
Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.
TLDR
- The US Navy fired on an Iranian-flagged cargo ship in the Gulf of Oman that attempted to evade a blockade.
- Iran's military vowed retaliation, accusing the US of violating an April 8 ceasefire.
- The incident escalates tensions in the Strait of Hormuz amid a US-Israeli war with Iran.
The Islamic Republic of Iran's military has issued a stern warning to the United States, vowing swift retaliation after a US destroyer fired upon an Iranian-flagged cargo ship in the Gulf of Oman. The vessel, identified as the Touska, was reportedly attempting to evade a US naval blockade when the USS Spruance intercepted it. A spokesperson for Iran's central command center, Khatam Al-Anbiya, condemned the action as "armed piracy" and a violation of the ceasefire that has been in place since April 8.
We warn that the armed forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran will soon respond and retaliate against this armed piracy and the US military
This aggressive act by the US military comes at a time of heightened tensions in the vital Strait of Hormuz. The waterway, crucial for global oil and LNG transport, has been largely inaccessible for the past seven weeks due to the ongoing US-Israeli conflict with Iran. Iran had briefly reopened the strait on Friday, coinciding with a ceasefire in Lebanon, but reinstated the blockade the following day in response to the continued US restrictions on ships bound for Iranian ports.
violated the ceasefire
US President Donald Trump, in a post on Truth Social, confirmed the incident, stating that the Iranian vessel ignored warnings and that the USS Spruance disabled it by damaging its engine room. He also announced that US Marines have taken custody of the ship and are examining its contents. This confrontation underscores the volatile situation in the region and Iran's determination to respond to perceived provocations.
Right now, US Marines have custody of the vessel, and are seeing what's on board!
Originally published by RTÉ News in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.