Tehran:Iran's top jointmilitary commandon Monday (April 20) claimed that Iranian forces also attacked the United States' military ships after the American forces seized an Iranian-flagged cargo vessel that allegedly attempted to breach a US naval blockade in the Gulf of Oman, reported Reuters. The development escalated tensions during the ongoing ceasefire between the two countries that is scheduled to end on April 22.
US President Donald Trump also confirmed that the Iranian vessel was seized by the American forces. "Today, an Iranian-flagged cargo ship named TOUSKA, nearly 900 feet long and weighing almost as much as an aircraft carrier, tried to get past our Naval Blockade, and it did not go well for them. The U.S. Navy Guided Missile Destroyer USS SPRUANCE intercepted the TOUSKA in the Gulf of Oman, and gave them fair warning to stop. The Iranian crew refused to listen, so our Navy ship stopped them right in their tracks by blowing a hole in the engineroom.," Trump wrote in a post on his social media Truth Social.
"Right now, U.S. Marines have custody of the vessel. The TOUSKA is under U.S. Treasury Sanctions because of their prior history of illegal activity. We have full custody of the ship, and are seeing what’s on board!" he added. Notably, the US has imposed naval blockade in the Strait of Hormuz after the first round of talks between two countries failed. The US blockade has been imposed on ships entering or leaving Iranian ports.
Iran accused the US of "maritime piracy" and even vowed retaliation against the US after the seizure of its commercial ship.
Iran-US Second Round Of Talks Happening:
Iran on Sunday rejected its participation in the second round of peace talks with United States, reportedly scheduled for April 21 (Tuesday) in Islamabad, citing "Washington’s excessive demands and unrealistic expectations". Taking to X, formerly Twitter, Iran's official IRNA news agency said, "Iran has rejected participation in a second round of peace talks due to Washington’s excessive demands, unrealistic expectations, constant shifts in stance, repeated contradictions, and the ongoing naval blockade, which it considers a breach of the ceasefire."
The development has come after Donald Trump, earlier today, informed that two US officials including US special envoy to Middle East, Steve Witkoff and US special envoy to Peace and also Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner, would be attending the second round of peace talks in Islamabad.
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The White House said Vice President JD Vance, who led the first round of historic face-to-face talks over 21 hours last weekend, would lead the US delegation to Pakistan with envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner.
Meanwhile, Iran did not immediately confirm the development, but its chief negotiator and Parliament speaker, Mohammed Bagher Qalibaf, said in an interview aired on state television late Saturday that “there will be no retreat in the field of diplomacy,” while acknowledging a wide gap remained between the sides.
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