US seizes Iranian ship, Tehran threatens retaliation

The US Navy has seized an Iranian-flagged cargo ship in the Sea of ​​Oman. US President Donald Trump confirmed that this operation was carried out as part of the naval blockade announced by the United States. Al-Jazeera news.

Meanwhile, the Iranian military announced retaliation for the seizure of the ship, calling it armed piracy.

According to Marine Traffic, the 294.1 meters (965 feet) long and 32.5 meters (107 feet) wide Iranian vessel Tusqa departed Malaysia's Port Klang 8 days ago, en route to the Iranian port city of Bandar Abbas.

The US military said it issued multiple warnings to the ship's crew over six hours on Sunday (April 19). They were informed that the ship was violating Washington's blockade.

A US warship then fired several rounds from their destroyer's 5-inch (13 cm) Mk 45 guns into the ship's engine room, rendering Tuska's propulsion useless. US forces later boarded the ship. It is currently in US custody.

Iran's military said the seizure violated the ceasefire. They warned that the Iranians would soon respond and retaliate to this US armed piracy.