Overview
- U.S. forces, which fired on and boarded the Iranian-flagged Touska on Sunday, say they warned the crew to clear the engine room before disabling the ship and taking control.
- The operation unfolded in the Gulf of Oman about 37 kilometers northeast of Oman near the Strait of Hormuz.
- U.S. officials say the tanker tried to break a naval blockade and ignored repeated warnings, and CENTCOM released video showing Marines boarding the vessel.
- Iran denounced the seizure as piracy and a truce violation, and its military claimed drone strikes on U.S. warships that remain unconfirmed by independent sources.
- The standoff puts planned talks in Pakistan at risk and follows weeks of supply strain, with analysts estimating about 500 million barrels removed from the market during the wider conflict and new disruption possible if Hormuz traffic slows.