U.S. forces operating in the Arabian Sea said they intercepted and disabled an Iranian-flagged cargo vessel that was attempting to sail toward Bandar Abbas in violation of an American naval blockade.
According to a military statement issued from Tampa, Florida, the guided-missile destroyer USS Spruance intercepted the cargo vessel, identified as M/V Touska, on April 19 while it was moving through the north Arabian Sea at a speed of 17 knots.
The statement said U.S. forces issued several warnings to the vessel and informed its crew that the voyage breached blockade measures. American personnel said the ship failed to comply after repeated warnings over a six-hour period.
U.S. forces then directed the crew to evacuate the engine room before disabling the vessel’s propulsion. The military said U.S. Marines from the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit later boarded the ship. It remains in U.S. custody.
American forces described the action as deliberate, professional and proportionate, saying it was taken to enforce compliance with the blockade.
The military also said that since the blockade began, U.S. forces have ordered 25 commercial vessels to turn back or return to an Iranian port.
