Tehran vows response to Washington’s ‘piracy’ after US attack on Iranian vessel
Donald Trump boasted on social media that US forces ‘blew a hole’ into the commercial ship and seized it
Iran’s military vowed in a statement on 20 April that it would retaliate for the US attack targeting one of its commercial vessels in the Sea of Oman, while slamming Washington’s “act of piracy.”
“The aggressive US, by violating the ceasefire and engaging in maritime banditry, attacked an Iranian commercial vessel in the waters of the Oman Sea by opening fire at it and disabling its navigation system, and by deploying a number of its armed personnel onto the deck of the vessel, carried out an act of aggression against it,” the Khatam al-Anbiya Headquarters said.
“We warn that the armed forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran will soon respond to and retaliate for this armed act of piracy by the US army,” the statement added.
The Iranian army later clarified that “due to the presence of a number of family members of the [Iranian] ship’s crew on board, Iran’s operational action was delayed in order to protect their lives and security, which were in constant danger,” according to Tasnim News Agency, adding that “Once the safety of the families and crew members is fully ensured, Iran’s Armed Forces will carry out the necessary action against the terrorist US military.”
US President Donald Trump took to his Truth Social platform on Sunday night, announcing that a US Navy destroyer intercepted an Iranian cargo ship.
“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 US Navy Guided Missile Destroyer USS SPRUANCE intercepted the TOUSKA in the Gulf of Oman, and gave them fair warning to stop,” the president wrote.
“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, US Marines have custody of the vessel. The TOUSKA is under US Treasury Sanctions because of their prior history of illegal activity. We have full custody of the ship, and are seeing what’s on board!” he added.
After having reopened it following the Lebanon truce, Iran reclosed the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday, citing Trump’s vow to continue blockading Iranian ports despite a ceasefire.
The US attack on Iran’s vessel came as Trump renewed his threats to attack Iranian power stations and bridges if the Islamic Republic does not agree to Washington’s terms for an agreement.
“They’ll come down fast, they’ll come down easy and, if they don’t take the DEAL, it will be my Honor to do what has to be done, which should have been done to Iran, by other Presidents, for the last 47 years. IT’S TIME FOR THE IRAN KILLING MACHINE TO END!” Trump said.
Pakistani-mediated US–Iran negotiations are expected to take place in Islamabad this week, although Iranian media reported on Sunday that Tehran has not confirmed participation.
Semi-official Tasnim News Agency reported that “The Iranian negotiating team has underscored that as long as US President Donald Trump’s declaration regarding a naval blockade of Iran remains in place, there will be no negotiations.”