US President Donald Trump has said that the US Navy has detained the Iranian-flagged cargo ship TOUSKA after it allegedly tried to break the naval blockade in the Gulf of Oman.
Trump said in a post on Truth Social that the nearly 900-foot-long vessel was stopped by the US Navy destroyer USS Spruance after it was reportedly warned to stop but refused to comply.
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According to Trump’s account, the US warship then “stopped them in their tracks” by striking the vessel’s engine room and causing significant damage. He further claimed that US Marines have since taken custody of the ship.
Trump described the vessel as being subject to U.S. Treasury sanctions for alleged prior illegal activity and said authorities were currently inspecting its cargo.
The incident, as described in the post, reportedly took place in the Gulf of Oman, a sensitive maritime corridor that has seen heightened tensions amid ongoing disputes between the US and Iran.
However, at this stage there is no independent confirmation of the alleged capture, damage to the vessel, or any official statement from the US Navy or Iranian authorities.
The claims come at a time of already heightened tensions between Washington and Tehran over maritime security, sanctions enforcement and the suspension of diplomatic engagement in the region.
Talks between the US and Iran plunged into uncertainty
Plans for a new round of US-Iran talks in Pakistan have been thrown into doubt by escalating tensions over the Strait of Hormuz and renewed tough rhetoric from US President Donald Trump.
The development comes after Trump said US negotiators would travel to Islamabad on Monday for fresh talks with Iran, a move that raised cautious hopes of extending the fragile truce that expires on Wednesday.
However, Iran has not confirmed the participation. Iran’s parliament speaker and chief negotiator Mohammed Bagher Qalibaf said there would be “no retreat in the field of diplomacy”, while admitting that significant differences between the two sides remained unresolved.
Diplomatic uncertainty ahead of talks in Islamabad
The White House said US Vice President JD Vance would lead the US delegation, joined by special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, for the proposed discussions in Islamabad.
Pakistan, the host country, has not formally confirmed the second round of talks. However, officials have reportedly stepped up security preparations in Islamabad while mediators are working behind the scenes to finalize arrangements.
A regional official involved in the process said US forward security teams were already in place, although preparations remained fluid.
Iran receives new US proposals amid deep divisions
Iran has confirmed it has received new proposals from Washington, but key disagreements remain over Iran’s nuclear enrichment program, its regional networks of influence and control of the Strait of Hormuz.
Iranian officials also reiterated that maritime movement through the strait remains severely restricted. Qalibaf has warned that shipping will not be allowed to pass as long as what Tehran calls a US blockade remains in place.
Trump threatens Iran’s infrastructure
Tensions escalated further after Trump issued a stark warning on Truth Social that the United States could target critical infrastructure if Iran rejects the deal.
“If Iran does not agree to the deal proposed by the US, the United States will disable every power plant and every bridge in Iran,” Trump wrote.
The Strait of Hormuz crisis is deepening
The situation in the Strait of Hormuz remains unstable, with ships still unable to pass freely due to mutual accusations between Washington and Tehran.
Iran called the US naval restrictions an “act of aggression”, accusing the US of enforcing a blockade on vessels entering and leaving Iranian ports.
Iranian officials have said transit is “impossible” while the restrictions remain, effectively tightening control over one of the world’s most critical maritime hubs.
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