Iranian Cargo Ship TOUSKA Has Been Seized By The US; Iran Rejects Peace Talks.

Tehran/Washington DC; April 2026: US President Donald Trump said today (20th April 2026 early morning IST) that the US military had seized ​an Iranian cargo ship TOUSKA that tried to run its blockade, while Iran said it would not participate in a second round of peace talks despite Trump’s threat of ‌renewed airstrikes. The developments indicated that peace may not come soon to the region, and a weeks-long blockade of marine traffic that has driven global oil prices higher likewise might remain in place.

The United States has maintained a blockade of Iranian ports, while Iran has lifted and then reimposed its own blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, which before the war began almost two months ago handled roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil supply.

Trump said today (Sunday AST) that the ​US military took control of an Iranian-flagged cargo ship that had tried to get past the blockade. “We have full custody of their ship, and are seeing what’s on board!” he ​wrote on social media, adding that US forces blew a hole in the vessel’s engine room.

Iran’s official IRNA state news agency, meanwhile, reported that Tehran ⁠had rejected new peace talks, citing the ongoing blockade and Washington’s shifting positions and “excessive demands”.

CENTCOM has officially announced that, Guided-missile destroyer USS Spruance (DDG 111) have 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. US 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, US forces have directed 25 commercial vessels to turn around or return to an Iranian port.

Trump had earlier warned Iran that the United States would destroy every bridge and power plant in Iran if they reject his terms, continuing a pattern of such threats throughout the war. While Iran has said that if the United States were to attack its civilian infrastructure it would hit power stations and desalination plants ​of Gulf Arab neighbours.

Trump said his envoys would arrive in Islamabad on Monday (20th April 2026) evening, one day before a two-week ceasefire ends. A White House official had said the US delegation would be headed by Vice President JD Vance, who led the war’s first peace talks a week ago, and also include Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner. Trump had earlier mentioned in his Truth Social Post that Vance would not go.

Pakistan, which has ​served as the main mediator, appeared to be preparing for the talks. Two giant US C-17 cargo planes landed at an air base on Sunday (19th April) afternoon, carrying security equipment and vehicles in preparation ​for the US delegation’s arrival, two Pakistani security sources said. As Maverick News have reported – Municipal authorities in the capital city of Islamabad halted public transport and heavy-goods traffic through the city. Barbed wire was rolled out near the Serena Hotel, where last ‌week’s talks were ⁠held. The hotel had asked all the guests to check out ahead of schedule.

The apparent diplomatic setback could set the stage for a renewed surge in oil prices when markets reopen after the weekend. Now in its eighth week, the war has created the most severe shock to global energy supplies in history, sending oil prices surging because of the de facto closure of the strait. While, thousands of people have been killed by US-Israeli strikes on Iran and in an Israeli invasion of Lebanon conducted in parallel since the war began on February 28. Iran responded to the attacks with missiles and drones against its Arab neighbours that host US ​bases.

Iran’s chief negotiator, Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, had earlier ​said the two sides had made progress but ⁠were still far apart on nuclear issues and the strait. Meanwhile, European allies, have been repeatedly criticised by Trump for not aiding his war effort, worry that the United States negotiating team is pushing for a swift, superficial deal that would require months or years of technically complex follow‑on talks.

Two liquefied petroleum gas ​tankers attempted to transit the Strait on Saturday morning but made a U‑turn after reaching waters south of Larak Island, MarineTraffic vessel tracking data ​showed that the vessels were turned back by Iran’s armed forces. One of the tankers, the Angola‑flagged LPG tanker G Summer, later managed to exit the Gulf on a second attempt on Saturday evening, signaling “China owner”, according to the data.

Pressure for a way out of the war has mounted on Trump as his fellow Republicans prepare to defend narrow majorities in Congress in the ​November midterm elections, with US gasoline prices high, inflation rising and his own approval ratings down.

Team Maverick.