Iran Condemns U.S Seizure Of Its Cargo Ship By Calling It ‘Piracy’ & Vowing To Retaliate

Iran has condemned the U.S seizure of its cargo ship named TOUSKA, a 90-foot-long vessel weighing almost as much as an aircraft carrier.

Tehran called it an act of ‘armed piracy’ in the Strait of Hormuz and promised to give a firm and calculated response.

It also blamed the U.S. for heightened tensions in the conflict-stricken Gulf region, stating that intercepting a commercial vessel is a violation of international maritime laws and regulations.

The move came hours after U.S President Trump announced that the government was sending a team to Islamabad, Pakistan, for potential talks with Iran, a claim that contrasted with what Iranian sources said, reiterating that Tehran would not engage in any further negotiations with Washington unless it removed the naval blockade.

U.S government officials said that this was necessary, given the vessel had been warned for six hours before it was fired upon and boarded for breaching the U.S blockade near Hormuz.

They added that U.S efforts were in line with wider efforts to maintain freedom of navigation in international waters.

On the other hand, in Lebanon, a 10-day ceasefire with Israel is barely holding up. However, residents have begun to return home in the southern parts of the country, after they were displaced and forced to flee due to Israeli strikes.