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Persian Gulf: Tensions in the Middle East reached a boiling point today after dramatic video footage emerged showing a U.S. Navy destroyer firing warning shots at the Iranian-flagged cargo vessel Touska. 

Dramatic video footage released by U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) has captured the moment U.S. Marines seized an Iranian-flagged cargo vessel after it was disabled by a Navy destroyer. 

The high-seas interception of the M/V Touska marks a significant escalation in the ongoing naval blockade and the broader 2026 Strait of Hormuz crisis.

The Encounter 

The confrontation took place just outside the Strait of Hormuz, the world’s most critical maritime chokepoint, which is currently under a partial blockade. 

According to military sources, the Touska ignored repeated radio hails and visual signals to alter its course while transiting toward a restricted zone.

The video shows the U.S. Navy vessel, identified as a guided-missile destroyer, firing several bursts of heavy machine-gun fire across the cargo ship's bow. 

The Interception

The encounter began in the Arabian Sea when the guided-missile destroyer USS Spruance intercepted the Touska as it transited toward the Iranian port of Bandar Abbas. According to CENTCOM, the vessel ignored repeated radio warnings for over six hours.

The released video features a chilling audio warning from the Spruance:

"Motor vessel Touska, motor vessel Touska, vacate your engine room. We are prepared to subject you to disabling fire."

When the vessel failed to comply, the Spruance utilised its 5-inch MK 45 gun to fire several precise rounds into the Touska’s engine room, effectively disabling its propulsion and stopping the ship right in its tracks.
 

Marine Boarding Operation

Footage shows the Marines fast-roping from MH-60S Seahawk helicopters onto the deck of the non-compliant ship.

The Touska was quickly secured without further exchange of fire. U.S. President Donald Trump addressed the seizure on social media, stating that the forces gave fair warning and acted to maintain the integrity of the blockade against Iranian ports.

Geopolitical Fallout

Tehran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a scathing statement within hours of the video’s release, describing the firing on the Touska as an "unprovoked act of aggression" and a violation of international maritime law. 

They have warned that "the safety of all vessels in the Persian Gulf is now at risk" due to American “recklessness.”

While nations like India have managed to secure safe passage for their tankers through back-channel diplomacy, the open firing on an Iranian-flagged ship threatens to turn the "tanker war" into a direct military confrontation.

With the Strait, a corridor for 25% of the world's seaborne oil, effectively closed again, oil prices have surged to their highest levels since the conflict began in February.

The Touska remains in U.S. custody in the Gulf of Oman, where forensic teams and military personnel are currently inspecting its cargo for sanctioned materiel. 

All regional naval assets have been placed on high alert as the international community awaits Iran's promised response.