Security sources reported that the United States suspects that the Iranian ship probably has on board what Washington considers dual-use items.
The United States Central Command released on Sunday (19) a video showing the moment in which US forces opened fire and captured an Iranian ship. “American forces sent multiple warnings and reports to the Iranian freighter that it was a violation of the US blockade”, explained the Command in a post on X (formerly Twitter).
“After the Toruka’s ignored warnings for six hours, the Spruance disabled the Touska’s propulsion by firing several projectiles from the destroyer’s 5-inch MK 45 cannon into the vessel’s engine room,” he explained, and added that. Marines from the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit later boarded the uncooperative ship, which remains in U.S. custody.
This Monday (20), security sources reported that the United States suspects that the Iranian ship probably has on board what Washington considers , nonetheless, They did not go into detail about the items.
O US Central Command listed metals, tubes and electronic components among other products that could have military and industrial use and could be captured. Iran’s military said the ship was traveling from China and accused the US of “armed piracy”, according to Iranian state media on Monday.
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM)
According to the numbers released on Saturday morning (18) at US Armysince the beginning of the blockade of Iranian ports, on April 13, “23 ships complied with orders from US forces to return”.
Iran lifted on Friday (17) the blockade of Strait of Hormuzthrough which a fifth of the world’s oil and natural gas trade normally passes. However, the following day, he announced that he was returning to impose “strict control” over the passage in response to the United States’ decision to maintain the ban on Iranian ports.
*With information from Reuters and AFP
