U.S. military forces have seized an Iranian-flagged ship in the Gulf of Oman after the vessel attempted to pass through an American naval blockade, according to a statement posted Sunday by President Trump. He said the ship, identified as the Touska, failed to obey orders from a U.S. Navy vessel to stop. Trump stated that the Navy responded by firing on the ship and striking its engine room, preventing it from continuing. Marines then boarded the vessel and took control of it to inspect what was on board.
Trump said the Touska had previously been sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury Department over alleged illegal activities. He added that a guided-missile destroyer carried out the interception.
Earlier the same day, Trump announced that U.S. negotiators were heading back to Pakistan for talks. However, Iranian state media later reported that Iran had not agreed to restart the discussions. According to Iranian reports, officials criticized what they described as excessive demands from the U.S., unrealistic expectations, shifting positions, repeated contradictions, and the continued naval blockade.
Iran has previously threatened to skip negotiations at the last minute but has still attended them in the past.
Tensions remained high on Sunday as both countries accused each other of violating the ceasefire. Trump said Iran had been firing on vessels traveling through the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian officials, meanwhile, argued that the U.S. naval blockade amounts to a war crime and a crime against humanity, saying it is meant to punish the Iranian population.