ISTANBUL, April 20 (Bernama-Anadolu) -- President Donald Trump on Sunday said that American naval forces intercepted and disabled an Iranian-flagged cargo ship that attempted to breach the US naval blockade in the Gulf of Oman, with US Marines now holding the vessel in custody, Anadolu Ajansi reported.
USS Spruance, a guided missile destroyer, intercepted the TOUSKA -- described as nearly 900 feet long (274 metres) and weighing close to an aircraft carrier -- after its crew refused repeated warnings to stop. "Our Navy ship stopped them right in their tracks by blowing a hole in the engine room," Trump wrote on Truth Social.
He said the TOUSKA is under US Treasury sanctions due to prior "illegal" activity and that American forces were inspecting the vessel's cargo.
Iran has not yet commented on the incident.
The interception comes as shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has been severely disrupted since the US-Israeli offensive on Iran began Feb 28. The US formally announced a naval blockade on April 13.
-- BERNAMA-ANADOLU
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