In the Gulf of Oman, the US. Navy’s guided-missile destroyer USS Spruance fired multiple rounds into the engine room of the Iranian-flagged cargo ship Touska, leaving it unable to operate. US. Marines from the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit dropped in by rappel from helicopters flying off the USS Tripoli and took the Touska.
On Truth Social, President Donald Trump said the Touska, almost 900 feet long, tried to push past the US. naval blockade, but “it did not go well for them.” CENTCOM added that the ship’s crew ignored repeated warnings for six hours before the Navy opened fire.
Iran Fires Back Literally and Diplomatically
Tehran spoke up after the seizure. Instead, Iran claimed the US. broke the ceasefire and called it “maritime piracy.” Iranian military spokesman Ebrahim Zolfaghari said on state TV that Iran “will soon respond” and “retaliate” for the armed act.
Yet the Door Stays Cracked Open
Even with harsh talk, Tehran keeps sending mixed messages. IRNA said Tehran turned down fresh peace talks, blaming the continued blockade, Washington’s changing stance, and “excessive demands.” But Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said talks are moving forward, with some matters “settled,” even as he cautioned that Iran still has “complete distrust” of the US.
Washington Reads the Contradictions as Weakness
Washington hasn’t missed Iran’s confusing signals. US. Ambassador Mike Waltz told NBC News’ “Meet the Press” that Iran’s mixed messages show “real confusion” on Iran’s side and “discord within their ranks.”
A White House official said the US. team going to Islamabad will be led by Vice President JD Vance, with Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner also on the delegation. Washington plans to move ahead, even if Tehran hesitates.
The seized vessel itself carries a controversial history. The Touska is owned by the Islamic Republic of Shipping Lines (IRISL), a company that the US. State Department described as the “preferred shipping line for Iranian proliferators and procurement agents.” Additionally, experts noted that the ship had previously travelled between China’s Gaolan port in Zhuhai, known for loading sodium perchlorate, a component used in solid rocket fuel, and Iranian ports.
Nothing matters more than this. The US. and Iran’s two-week ceasefire ends on Wednesday, but no clear way to stop the war has been found yet. Since February 28, when the US. and Israel struck Iran over its nuclear and missile programs, the fighting has killed thousands and forced millions to flee.
In the end, Iran’s top negotiator, Qalibaf, admitted the two sides are still stuck on nuclear matters and who controls the Strait of Hormuz. So the world is watching Islamabad intently, waiting to see whether there will be progress, or trouble.
“Sources: NBC News, CNN, Al Jazeera, TIME, CNBC, The Aviationist, The Week”
