TAMPA April 19, 2026 – U.S. naval forces operating in the Arabian Sea have intercepted and taken custody of an Iranian-flagged cargo vessel after it attempted to violate a U.S.-imposed naval blockade, according to an official statement from U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) released Sunday.The guided-missile destroyer USS Spruance (DDG 111) intercepted the M/V Touska as it transited the north Arabian Sea at 17 knots, en route to Bandar Abbas, Iran. American forces issued multiple warnings and informed the crew that the vessel was in violation of the blockade.
After the Touska’s crew failed to comply with repeated warnings over a six-hour period, the Spruance directed the vessel to evacuate its engine room. The destroyer then disabled the ship’s propulsion by firing several rounds from its 5-inch MK 45 gun into the engine room. U.S. Marines from the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit later boarded the non-compliant vessel, which remains in U.S. custody.
CENTCOM emphasized that U.S. forces acted in a “deliberate, professional, and proportional manner to ensure compliance.” Since the blockade’s commencement, American forces have directed 25 commercial vessels to turn around or return to an Iranian port.
The incident marks the first reported use of kinetic action to enforce the blockade, which was implemented earlier this month amid heightened U.S.-Iran tensions. No injuries were reported during the operation.
The M/V Touska, a large container vessel, had been under U.S., EU, and UN sanctions for alleged links to Iran’s nuclear and missile programs and is operated by the Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines (IRISL). It had recently departed from China and stopped in Malaysia before heading toward Iran.
This development underscores the ongoing enforcement of maritime restrictions in the region as part of broader efforts to address Iran-related security concerns.
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