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Iran urges UN to condemn US seizure of Iran flagged ship Touska in Sea of Oman, calling it piracy and a ceasefire breach, as Trump defends the sanctions based operation.
Picture used for representation by Reuters.
Iran on Tuesday urged the United Nations to condemn the United States for seizing an Iranian cargo vessel, calling the move an act of piracy and a violation of a ceasefire between the two countries.
The protest follows an announcement by US President Donald Trump that American naval forces had intercepted and taken control of the Iran-flagged Touska in the Sea of Oman after it allegedly ignored warnings to stop. Washington maintains the vessel was subject to US sanctions.
In a letter to the UN Security Council and Secretary-General, Iran’s ambassador Amir Saeid Iravani described the operation as a “dangerous escalation” that threatens key maritime routes.
“Such conduct bears the hallmarks of piracy… and severely endangers the safety and security of vital shipping lanes,” Iravani wrote, adding that the seizure constituted a “clear and material breach” of the April 8 ceasefire under the UN Charter.
He called on the UN to formally condemn the action and demand the immediate release of the vessel.
Trump, however, defended the operation, saying the ship was stopped after failing to comply with US Navy instructions. He claimed forces disabled the vessel by striking its engine room before boarding it.
The incident comes amid heightened tensions between Washington and Tehran, even as Trump said he would extend the ceasefire to allow more time for negotiations. The US, however, continues to enforce a naval blockade on Iranian ports—an issue that remains a major point of contention between the two sides.
The seizure has raised concerns over the safety of shipping lanes in the region, particularly in and around the Sea of Oman, a critical corridor for global trade and energy supplies.
April 22, 2026, 04:16 IST
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