The United States has taken control of an Iranian-flagged cargo vessel near the Strait of Hormuz by causing damage to the ship, according to a statement by former President Donald Trump. The incident involved the ship named Touska attempting to breach the US Naval Blockade on Sunday. President Trump announced on Truth Social that the US Marines successfully intercepted the vessel in the Gulf of Oman, marking the first such seizure since the initiation of the US blockade on Iranian ports the previous week.
In his statement, Trump mentioned that the Iranian crew disregarded warnings, leading to the US Navy halting them by creating a hole in the engine room of the ship. The Touska had been under US Treasury Sanctions due to previous unlawful activities. The vessel is now under the complete control of US authorities, who are currently inspecting its contents. Iran has not yet issued a formal response to these events.
Iran has criticized the US blockade of its ports as a violation of the agreed-upon two-week ceasefire. Earlier the same day, Tehran rejected further peace talks with the United States as reported by the Iranian state news agency IRNA.
President Trump announced plans for US negotiators to engage in talks in Islamabad, warning of potential strikes on Iranian infrastructure if an agreement is not reached. Iran’s absence from the negotiations was attributed to what Iran described as unreasonable demands and shifting stances from the US, along with the ongoing naval blockade.
The uncertainty surrounding Iran’s participation in the negotiations raised doubts about the continuation of the ceasefire, set to expire soon. While Iran’s chief negotiator expressed commitment to diplomatic efforts, significant differences remained between the two sides. Security measures in Islamabad were heightened in anticipation of the potential talks.
The US delegation for the discussions in Pakistan will be led by Vice-President JD Vance, who previously led the initial round of talks. Iran confirmed receiving new proposals from the US, but it remains unclear if any substantial shifts in positions have occurred on crucial issues such as Iran’s nuclear activities and control over the Strait of Hormuz.