The United States Senate Committee on Armed Services has released a video of the US Navy seizing an Iranian cargo ship, stating that American Marines have taken control of the vessel. The ship, identified as “MV Tousa,” is a container ship registered under the Iranian flag, with a recorded speed of just 1.2 knots, approximately 7 hours ago. According to Iranian Joint Military Command, the US has violated a ceasefire agreement by firing on an Iranian merchant ship.
Prior to this, US President Donald Trump had tweeted that the US had seized an Iranian ship that had violated the blockade. The US Navy had intercepted an Iranian ship attempting to breach the blockade in the Strait of Hormuz. The ship, Tousa, is approximately 900 feet long and weighs as much as a standard aircraft carrier, and was stopped by a US Navy guided missile destroyer in the Gulf of Oman. The ship’s crew was warned to stop, but they refused, and the US Navy subsequently boarded the ship, taking control of the vessel. Iranian officials have stated that the US has violated the ceasefire agreement, while the US claims that the ship was attempting to breach the blockade.
The development comes as negotiations between the US and Iran are set to resume on Wednesday. Iran has reopened its airports in Tehran, while the UAE has detained members of the Iran-backed terrorist organization. US President Donald Trump has stated that the negotiations are ongoing and that there is no “game” being played, and that he would be willing to meet with Iranian leadership if negotiations stall.
The US has also imposed conditions on the UAE for security cooperation, including the release of individuals involved in the attack on the US embassy in Baghdad. Austria’s oil and gas company has been forced to purchase crude oil from the US emergency reserve, while China has expressed concern over the US seizure of the Iranian cargo ship.
In the Gaza Strip, the Palestinian Ministry of Health has reported that two Palestinians have been killed in Israeli military attacks over the past 24 hours. Chinese President Xi Jinping has expressed support for a ceasefire, and has stated that China will lead negotiations with Israel.
Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has expressed regret over an incident in which Israeli soldiers destroyed a statue of Jesus Christ. US President Donald Trump has expressed contradictory views, stating that negotiations are ongoing, but also that he is willing to meet with Iranian leadership if negotiations stall.
Iran’s frozen assets are worth an estimated $100 billion, with a significant portion held in US banks. The US seizure of the Iranian cargo ship has sparked concern from China, which has expressed its opposition to the move.
