The fate of the talks between the United States and Iran is unclear after a dramatic escalation at sea, with President Donald Trump on Sunday saying US forces had attacked and seized an Iranian cargo vessel in the Gulf of Oman. Trump said the guided-missile destroyer USS Spruance fired on the ship, "blowing a hole" in its engine room before US Marines boarded and took control.
The incident comes days before a fragile ceasefire is due to expire and amid uncertainty over whether new diplomatic talks will go ahead.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump said the vessel had defied a US blockade of Iranian ports and was under US Treasury sanctions due to a "history of illegal activity". "We havefull custody of the ship,and are seeing what's on board!" he wrote, without providing details on any casualties.
Iran's Hazrat Khatam al-Anbiya military headquarters later confirmed that the vessel had been attacked and seized. "The aggressive America, by violating the ceasefire and committing maritime piracy, attacked one of Iran's commercial ships in the waters of the Sea of Oman by firing upon it and disabling its navigation system by deploying several of its terrorist marines on the deck of the mentioned vessel," it said in a statement carried by Tasnim News Agency.
"We warn that the Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran will soon respond to and retaliate against this armed piracy by the US military," it added.
Donald Trump's post on Truth Social announcing the seizure of the Iranian ship.
The incident took place south of theStrait of Hormuz,a key route through which around 20% of the world's oil supply typically passes. Iran has imposed a blockade on the strait, while the United States has responded by restricting access to Iranian ports.
On Saturday, Iran attacked two Indian vessels attempting to transit the region, actions Trump described as a "total violation of our cease-fire".
The ceasefire, which came into effect on April 8, is due to expire on April 22. Tensions have been rising as the deadline approaches.
Trump said earlier that US negotiators would travel to Islamabad for talks with Iranian counterparts on Monday. A White House official said the delegation would be led by Vice President JD Vance and include senior aides Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner.
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