U.S. President Donald Trump has said that U.S. Marines have seized an Iranian cargo ship in the Gulf of Oman after it was intercepted by the U.S. Navy.
Trump made the disclosure via his Truth Social network on Sunday.
The development follows an earlier statement on the same day in which he threatened to destroy Iran’s power plants and bridges if planned negotiations scheduled for Monday, April 20, fail to produce an agreement.
What they are saying
Trump said the operation targeted an Iranian-flagged cargo ship identified as TOUSKA, which he claimed attempted to bypass a U.S. naval blockade in the Gulf of Oman.
He said the U.S. Navy destroyer USS Spruance intercepted the vessel after it attempted to breach the blockade. He stated that the ship ignored repeated warnings issued by U.S. forces.
- “Today, an Iranian-flagged cargo ship named TOUSKA, nearly 900 feet long and weighing almost as much as an aircraft carrier, tried to get past our Naval Blockade, and it did not go well for them. The U.S. Navy Guided Missile Destroyer USS SPRUANCE intercepted the TOUSKA in the Gulf of Oman and gave them fair warning to stop.
- “The Iranian crew refused to listen, so our Navy ship stopped them right in their tracks by blowing a hole in the engine room. Right now, U.S. Marines have custody of the vessel,“ the statement read in part.
Trump said the vessel was disabled after the U.S. Navy struck its engine room during the interception. He added that U.S. Marines have taken custody of the ship
He noted that the vessel is under U.S. Treasury sanctions due to alleged prior illegal activity. He said U.S. forces now have full control of the vessel and are inspecting its cargo.
Get up to speed
Tensions in the Middle East between the United States, Iran, and Israel officially started on February 28, 2026.
- A week of escalations, a 2-week ceasefire was reached on April 8. However, a major round of talks collapsed following 21 hours of negotiations between the USA and Iran in Islamabad on April 12. U.S. Vice President JD Vance confirmed that core disagreements remained unresolved.
- Following the breakdown, President Donald Trump ordered a naval blockade restricting Iranian shipments through the Strait of Hormuz.
- The Strait briefly reopened later, but maritime tensions and military presence in the region have remained elevated.
Ahead of renewed negotiations scheduled for Monday, April 20, in Islamabad, Trump described the proposed agreement as a “very fair and reasonable DEAL” for Iran.
He warned that failure to reach an agreement would trigger strikes on Iranian power plants and bridges. He confirmed that U.S. representatives will attend the talks.
What you should know
The Middle East tension is disrupting global energy markets, shipping routes, and aviation operations, with the Strait of Hormuz remaining central to the crisis as it accounts for about 20% of global oil shipments.
- Disruptions in the waterway tightened global crude oil and petroleum product flows, while increasing volatility across energy-dependent sectors. The aviation industry has been particularly affected by rising jet fuel costs and constrained supply.
- The International Energy Agency (IEA) has warned that aviation fuel stocks in Europe could last only six weeks under sustained pressure, although no shortages have been declared.
In Nigeria, jet fuel prices surged from about N900 per litre in February to around N3,300 by mid-April. The Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) had threatened to shut down operators on April 20, over the high jet fuel price.
The Federal Government has urged airlines to maintain operations despite rising costs and suspend planned shutdowns, while Aviation Minister Festus Keyamo confirmed ongoing stakeholder engagements and an emergency industry meeting scheduled for April 22, 2026.
