The already fragile ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran is now at risk after Iran accused the U.S. of breaking the truce by firing on an Iranian merchant ship in the Gulf of Oman.
On April 20, Iran’s Hatem Al-Anbiya Central Command, which leads the country’s military, accused U.S. forces of “armed piracy” for targeting the ship traveling from China to Iran.
A spokesperson told state media that Iran’s armed forces would “soon respond and retaliate” against what they called a clear violation of the ceasefire.
This incident happened as U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed that American forces stopped the Iranian cargo ship Tuska, which is almost 900 feet long, after it tried to get past the maritime blockade.
Trump posted on Truth Social that the USS Spruance, a guided-missile destroyer, gave several warnings before disabling the ship by hitting its engine room.
“This was a legitimate enforcement of the blockade,” Trump declared, adding that the vessel is now under U.S. control.
The Wall Street Journal reports that although the U.S. Navy has made over 20 Iranian ships turn back before, this is the first known time they have used live fire to stop a vessel.
This incident has made already tense talks even more difficult, with Iran calling the strike a violation of the ceasefire and promising to respond.
As the truce is about to expire, the seizure of the Tuska could be the turning point that decides if diplomacy continues or if conflict breaks out.
