In a statement released on Sunday, US Central Command said the USS Spruance intercepted the Iranian-flagged “Touska” as it traveled towards an Iranian port in violation of the blockade, detailing an event that was announced on social media earlier in the day by President Donald Trump. CNN reported.
“After Touska’s crew failed to comply with repeated warnings over a six-hour period, Spruance directed the vessel to evacuate its engine room,” CENTCOM said in a statement.
It then “disabled Touska’s propulsion” by firing several rounds into the engine room, CENTCOM went on to say.
Since the start of the blockade, the US has “directed 25 commercial vessels to turn around or return to an Iranian port,” the military added.
