11:18 20-04-2026

US Seizes Iranian Ship as Tensions Drive Oil Surge

The US seized an Iranian vessel in the Gulf of Oman, sparking tensions, halted talks, and a sharp rise in oil prices amid fears of further escalation.

U. S. President Donald Trump announced that an Iranian commercial vessel had been intercepted while attempting to break through a blockade in the Gulf of Oman. According to him, the American guided-missile destroyer USS Spruance stopped the container ship Touska and ordered it to halt.

Trump said the crew of the Iran-flagged vessel refused to comply. In response, U.S. forces opened fire using a 127-mm deck gun, damaging the ship’s engine room. A Force Recon unit from the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit subsequently boarded the vessel.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) accused the United States of violating a ceasefire and described the incident as an act of piracy. Following the confrontation, Iranian drones launched attacks on U.S. naval ships.

Amid the escalation, Tehran pulled out of a planned second round of talks with Washington, according to the IRNA news agency. Axios journalist Barak Ravid reported that Iranian officials fear further strikes under the cover of diplomacy and remain skeptical about the negotiation process.

The developments triggered a sharp rise in global oil prices. Brent crude, which had traded below $88 per barrel the previous day, surged past $96 after reports of the halted talks and the seizure of the Iranian vessel.

Earlier, on April 19, Trump said U.S. representatives were heading to Islamabad to continue dialogue with Iran. He emphasized Washington’s intention to reach a final agreement but warned that if Tehran rejected the proposed terms, the United States was prepared to strike the country’s energy and transport infrastructure.