VIDEO: U.S. seizes Iranian-flag vessel Touska

Screengrab from DOW video

In another ratcheting up of tensions in the Strait of Hormuz, the U.S. has disabled and seized an Iranian-flagged containership attempting to evade its blockade of Iranian ports. The vessel is the M/V Touska, a 4,800 TEU containership linked to IRISL (Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines) and sanctioned by the U.S. and with a history that would make it a high priority for interception.

A statement released by the Department of War says:

“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, April 19.

“Guided-missile destroyer USS Spruance (DDG 111) intercepted 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 Touska’s crew failed to comply with repeated warnings over a six-hour period, Spruance directed the vessel to evacuate its engine room. Spruance disabled Touska’s propulsion by firing several rounds from the destroyer’s 5-inch MK 45 Gun into Touska’s engine room. U.S. Marines from the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit later boarded the non-compliant vessel, which remains in U.S. custody.

“American forces acted in a deliberate, professional, and proportional manner to ensure compliance. Since the blockade’s commencement, U.S. forces have directed 25 commercial vessels to turn around or return to an Iranian port.”

According to Windward AI, the incident took place 45 nautical miles southeast of Chabahar in southeastern Iran. The Touska was en route from Port Klang to Chabahar when U.S. naval assets forced it to reduce speed.

Windward says Touska was a priority target for these reasons.

→ OFAC Level 3 sanctioned under IRN, NPWMD, SECON, and IFSR programs.
→ Operated by IRISL from September 2023 to September 2025.
→ 16 Iranian port calls in the past 12 months.
→ High Windward smuggling risk score, with dark activity, loitering events, and meetings with Iran-flagged vessels.