U.S. Department of War
04/20/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 04/20/2026 09:17
U.S. Forces Disable Vessel Attempting to Enter Iranian Port, Violate Blockade
U.S. forces operating in the Arabian Sea enforced naval blockade measures against an Iranian-flagged cargo vessel attempting to sail toward an Iranian port yesterday.
Replenishment at Sea
The destroyer USS Spruance conducts a replenishment-at-sea with fleet replenishment oiler USNS Henry J. Kaiser during Operation Epic Fury, March 18, 2026.
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The destroyer USS Spruance intercepted the M/V Touska as it transited the north Arabian Sea at 17 knots enroute to Bandar Abbas, Iran. American forces issued multiple warnings and informed the Iranian-flagged vessel it was in violation of the U.S. blockade.
After the Touska's crew failed to comply with repeated warnings over a six-hour period, the Spruance directed the vessel to evacuate its engine room. The Spruance disabled the vessel's propulsion by firing several rounds from the destroyer's 5-inch MK 45 gun into the Touska's engine room.
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VIDEO | 00:34 | U.S. Forces Disable Vessel Attempting to Enter Iranian Port, Violate Blockade
Marines assigned to the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit later boarded the noncompliant vessel, which remains in U.S. custody.
Since the blockade's commencement, U.S. forces have directed 25 commercial vessels to turn around or return to an Iranian port.
Sunlit Sail
The USS Abraham Lincoln conducts U.S. blockade operations in the Arabian Sea, April 16, 2026.
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U.S. Department of War published this content on April 20, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on April 20, 2026 at 15:17 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]