An Iranian-flagged cargo ship was intercepted and seized in the Gulf of Oman after it tried to breach the US naval blockade near the Strait of Hormuz, President Donald Trump said.
The USS Spruance, a guided missile destroyer, gave the vessel a 'fair warning' to stop, but when the Iranian crew didn't listen, the ship was stopped by 'blowing a hole in the engine room'. The Iranian ship, Touska, is now under US Marines custody.
The US President said the Touska was nearly 900 feet long and weighed almost as much as an aircraft carrier. The ship was under US Treasury Sanctions due to its prior history of illegal activity.
Tehran has vowed a swift response against what it called 'armed piracy', with a spokesperson for the military's central command centre saying the Islamic Republic's armed forces will retaliate against the US military.
The seizure of the ship adds to uncertainty over talks between the two countries, with just days left for the ceasefire to end.
