A view of Iranian-flagged cargo ship Touska as USS Spruance (DDG 111) conduts its interception in a location given as the north Arabian Sea, in this screen capture from a video released April 19, 2026. CENTCOM\/Handout via REUTERS<\/p>\n
US Seizes Iranian Cargo Ship, Tehran Vows To Retaliate<\/p>\n
By Daphne Psaledakis, Trevor Hunnicutt and Saad Sayeed<\/p>\n
WASHINGTON\/ISLAMABAD, April 19 (Reuters)\u00a0\u2013\u00a0The United States said on Sunday that it had seized an Iranian cargo ship that<\/p>\n
tried to run its blockade<\/p>\n
and Iran said it would retaliate, raising the possibility that the ceasefire between the two countries might not last for even the two days it is set to remain in force.<\/p>\n
Efforts to build a more lasting peace in the region likewise appeared to be on shaky ground, as Iran said it would not participate in a second round of negotiations that the U.S. had hoped to kick off before the<\/p>\n
that has driven global oil prices higher likewise might remain in place.<\/p>\n
The United States has maintained a blockade of Iranian\u00a0ports, while I<\/p>\n
ran has lifted and then reimposed its own blockade<\/p>\n
on marine traffic passing through the<\/p>\n
, which typically handles roughly one-fifth of the world\u2019s oil supply.<\/p>\n
The U.S. military said Sunday it had fired on an Iranian-flagged cargo ship as the vessel sailed toward Iran\u2019s Bandar Abbas\u00a0port. \u201cWe have full custody of their ship, and are seeing what\u2019s on board!\u201d President Trump wrote on social media.<\/p>\n
Iran\u2019s military said the ship had been traveling from China. \u201cWe warn that the armed forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran will soon respond and retaliate against this armed piracy by the U.S. military,\u201d a military spokesperson said, according to state media.<\/p>\n
Iranian state media also reported that Tehran had rejected new peace talks, citing the ongoing blockade, threatening rhetoric, and Washington\u2019s shifting positions and \u201cexcessive demands.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOne cannot restrict Iran\u2019s oil exports while expecting free security for others. The choice is clear: either a free oil market for all, or the risk of significant costs for everyone,\u201d Iran\u2019s First Vice President Mohammadreza Aref wrote on social media.<\/p>\n
Trump had earlier warned Iran that the United States would destroy every bridge and power plant in Iran if Tehran rejected his terms, continuing a pattern of such threats throughout the war.<\/p>\n
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 neighbors.<\/p>\n
Brent crude futures jumped about 7% to $96.85 a barrel and S&P 500 futures fell about 0.9% in early Asian trading, as investors dealt with conflicting messages about the war.<\/p>\n
PREPARING FOR TALKS THAT MIGHT NOT HAPPEN<\/p>\n
Trump said his envoys would arrive in Islamabad on Monday evening, one day before a two-week ceasefire ends.<\/p>\n
A White House official had said the U.S. delegation would be headed by Vice President JD Vance, who led the war\u2019s first peace talks a week ago, and also include Trump\u2019s envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law\u00a0Jared Kushner. Trump had separately told ABC News and MS Now that Vance would not go.<\/p>\n
, which has served as the main mediator, appeared to be preparing for the talks. Two giant U.S. C-17 cargo planes landed at an air base on Sunday afternoon, carrying security equipment and vehicles in preparation for the U.S. delegation\u2019s arrival, two Pakistani security sources said.<\/p>\n
Municipal authorities in the capital city of Islamabad halted public transport\u00a0and heavy-goods traffic through the city. Barbed wire was rolled out near the Serena Hotel, where last week\u2019s talks were held. The hotel told all guests to leave.<\/p>\n
The apparent diplomatic setback could set the stage for a renewed surge in oil prices when markets reopen after the weekend.<\/p>\n
Now in its eighth week,<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Thousands of people have been killed by U.S.-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 neighbors that host U.S. bases.<\/p>\n
Iran\u2019s parliament speaker, Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, who has led Iran\u2019s side in the talks, had earlier said the two sides had made progress but were still far apart on nuclear issues and the\u00a0strait.<\/p>\n
European allies, repeatedly criticized by Trump for not aiding his war effort, worry that Washington\u2019s negotiating team is pushing for a swift,\u00a0superficial deal\u00a0that would require months or years of technically complex follow?on talks.<\/p>\n
Iran\u2019s semi?official Tasnim news agency reported that two liquefied petroleum gas tankers that attempted to transit the strait<\/p>\n
by Iran\u2019s armed forces on Saturday. One of the tankers \u2013 the Angola?flagged LPG tanker G Summer \u2013 later exited the Gulf on a second attempt, according to MarineTraffic vessel tracking data.<\/p>\n
(c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 202<\/p>\n