Iran sharply criticized the United States for seizing an Iranian-flagged cargo ship and demanded the crew’s release.
According to Iran’s semiofficial Tasnim News Agency, the Iranian Foreign Ministry said in a statement on the 21st that the operation was carried out while threatening the ship’s sailors and crew and their families. It called the seizure “piracy” and “terrorism,” and said it was another clear violation of a ceasefire agreement reached on April 8, 2026 (Iranian calendar year 1405, Farvardin 19), describing it as an attack on Iran.
The ministry warned of “very dangerous consequences” from what it called an illegal and criminal act, and again demanded the immediate release of the ship, its crew and sailors, and their families.
It said Iran would “use all capabilities” to defend its interests and national security and to protect the rights and dignity of the Iranian people, adding that if regional conditions worsen further, the United States would bear full responsibility.
U.S. authorities, however, said the Tusca attempted to violate a maritime blockade of the Strait of Hormuz and was seized after repeated warnings over six hours. President Donald Trump said on the 19th on Truth Social that the U.S. Navy guided-missile destroyer Spruance intercepted the Tusca in the Gulf of Oman and issued a lawful order to stop, but Iranian sailors did not comply, and the U.S. Navy damaged the engine room to halt the ship.
Iran warned of retaliation immediately after the seizure and later claimed it carried out drone attacks against some U.S. military vessels. With the two sides offering conflicting accounts, the incident could become an issue ahead of a second round of U.S.-Iran talks on ending the war, the report said.
U.S. Central Command posted photos of the seized ship on X on the 21st. The images show black smoke rising from a large container ship and a U.S. warship operating nearby. Central Command said U.S. Marines boarded and seized the vessel and that U.S. forces are monitoring it in the Arabian Sea while the cargo is searched.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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