Published on: 20/04/2026 14:49
Naval and verbal escalation is brewing between the United States and Iran. Tehran promises to retaliate after the spectacular seizure of an Iranian cargo ship by American forces over the weekend in the Strait of Hormuz. With just two days left of the ceasefire, the future of negotiations appears more uncertain than ever.
Confrontation near the Strait of Hormuz. The scene is filmed from an American destroyer. Just meters away, the Iranian ship Touska. The American military intercepts it and orders it to stop. Faced with the crew’s refusal to comply, they inform them that they will attack. The Americans proceed to fire shots in the engine room. Later that night, an American helicopter with marines on board flies over the Touska.
The commando team prepares to board the ship accused of bypassing the blockade. The American soldiers board the vessel directly from the helicopter using a simple rope. The United States seize the Touska and take control. Donald Trump shares the operation on his social media: “The Touska ship tried to break through our blockade and it didn’t go well for them. We have total control of the ship and are examining what’s on board.”
On Saturday, April 18, the Iranians fired on several boats in the Strait of Hormuz. Among the convoy were French vessels from the company CMA CGM. After the shots were fired, they turned back. The CMA CGM Everglade is reported to have been damaged. The crew is safe. The ships are now at the mercy of negotiations scheduled to take place in Pakistan between the United States and Iran on April 21. However, the Tehran regime is casting doubt. Esmail Baghei, spokesman for the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, states: “For now, we have not made any plans for the next round of negotiations. And no decision has been made yet.”
These negotiations are set to take place on the eve of the ceasefire between the United States and Iran.
