In a dramatic statement posted on Truth Social, former U.S. President Donald Trump claimed that a U.S. Navy warship intercepted an Iranian-flagged cargo vessel attempting to breach a naval blockade in the Gulf of Oman.
JUST IN: 🇺🇸🇮🇷 President Trump says the US seized Iran's 'TOUSKA' cargo Ship.
US Navy blew a hole in Iranian cargo ship's engine room after it tried to pass through the naval blockade. https://t.co/kjXYIQD1B5
— Donald J Trump Posts TruthSocial (@TruthTrumpPost) April 19, 2026
According to Trump, the vessel—identified as Touska, a nearly 900-foot-long cargo ship—was stopped by the USS Spruance, a guided missile destroyer of the U.S. Navy. He stated that the ship had been previously sanctioned by the United States Department of the Treasury due to alleged involvement in illegal activities.
Trump alleged that despite warnings from the U.S. Navy, the Iranian crew refused to comply, prompting decisive action. He claimed that the destroyer disabled the vessel by targeting its engine room, effectively halting its movement in the strategically critical Gulf of Oman.
The statement further asserted that U.S. Marines have taken custody of the vessel and are currently inspecting its contents.
