The United States Navy seized an Iranian cargo ship in the Gulf of Oman on Sunday, marking a significant escalation in the ongoing tensions over the Strait of Hormuz. President Donald Trump confirmed that a US guided missile destroyer fired on and disabled the Iranian vessel before Marines boarded and took control of it.
This incident comes after Iran fired upon commercial vessels attempting to transit the strategic Strait of Hormuz earlier on Sunday. The strait, which lies between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, has been a focal point of regional tensions since the conflict began.
Iranian officials have condemned the seizure as a violation of the ceasefire agreement reached between the US and Iran. They cite this action as one reason for calling off negotiations that were expected to take place in Islamabad on Monday.
The Strait of Hormuz is a critical shipping route for global energy markets, with approximately one-fifth of the world's oil passing through it. The ongoing blockade has disrupted oil shipments to major Asian importers including China, South Korea, and Japan.
Asian markets reacted cautiously to the news, with most indices showing modest gains on Monday morning as investors continue to monitor the volatile situation in the Middle East.