Iran’s Joint Military Command has announced a strong response following the seizure of an Iranian commercial vessel by US naval forces, describing the incident as a violation of the ceasefire and an act of maritime aggression.
According to Iranian military officials, the cargo ship—reportedly traveling from China to Iran—was intercepted by US forces in the northern Arabian Sea near the Strait of Hormuz. Tehran condemned the operation, labeling it as “maritime piracy” and warning of an imminent retaliatory response against US naval actions.
Iran’s Joint Military Command stated that Iran will soon respond to what it described as unlawful military aggression at sea. Officials further declared that Iranian forces have already conducted drone strikes targeting certain US naval vessels following the incident, escalating tensions between the two sides.
The development comes shortly after US Central Command confirmed that an Iranian-flagged vessel, identified as the container ship MV Tosca, was stopped while heading toward Bandar Abbas. US authorities claimed the ship failed to comply with multiple warnings, leading to action against its engine room before boarding and taking control of the vessel.
Also Read: US navy seizes Iranian cargo ship in Gulf of Oman, says Trump
Maritime tracking data indicated that the vessel had slowed significantly before interception, suggesting possible evasive movement. The ship, reportedly registered under the Iranian flag, has now been placed under US control for inspection.
Earlier, US President Donald Trump stated that American forces seized the vessel after it allegedly violated a naval blockade near the Strait of Hormuz. He claimed the ship was intercepted by a US Navy guided-missile destroyer, reportedly the USS Spruance, in the Gulf of Oman after repeated warnings went unheeded.
Trump also described the vessel as a large cargo ship comparable in size to an aircraft carrier, further stating that US forces disabled it by breaching its engine room before boarding.
Iran has rejected the US narrative and warned that the situation will not go unanswered, raising concerns of further escalation in already tense US-Iran maritime relations.
