Sources: The cargo of the detained Iranian vessel may be used in military industries
Vessels belonging to the Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines group are under the control of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, and their crews are usually composed of Iranians, sometimes assisted by Pakistani sailors.
Sources in the maritime security sector estimate that the container ship Tosca, flying the Iranian flag and boarded and detained by U.S. forces on Sunday, is carrying what Washington considers dual-use materials that could be used by the military.
U.S. forces boarded the small container ship off the Iranian port of Chabahar in the Gulf of Oman. Vessel tracking data on the MarineTraffic platform indicate that the ship last reported its position at 13:08 GMT. The vessel belongs to the shipping group of the Islamic Republic of Iran, which is subject to U.S. sanctions.
U.S. Central Command stated that the Tosca’s crew failed to respond to repeated warnings over a six-hour period and that the vessel had violated the U.S. blockade. Security sources, who requested anonymity, said their preliminary assessments suggest that the ship is likely carrying dual-use materials following a voyage from Asia.
One of the sources noted that the vessel had previously transported materials considered to be dual-use.
The sources did not provide further details about these materials. U.S. Central Command listed metals, pipes, and electronic components among other cargo that may have military and industrial applications and could be subject to seizure.
Local media reported that Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Tuesday that U.S. forces had attacked an Iranian commercial vessel, the Tosca, near the country’s coast, condemning the incident as “illegal” and a violation of international law.
The ministry demanded the immediate release of the ship, its crew members, and their families, stating that the incident constitutes a breach of the ceasefire agreed upon this month and warning that Washington would be responsible for any further escalation.
Iranian state media reported on Monday that the Iranian army said the vessel had come from China and accused the United States of “armed piracy.” The army added that it is ready to confront U.S. forces due to what it described as “blatant aggression,” but is constrained by the presence of the crew members’ families on board.
Washington imposed sanctions on the Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines group in late 2019, describing it as the “preferred shipping line for weapons proliferators as well as Iranian procurement agents,” including the transport of materials intended for Iran’s ballistic missile program. One source said that the Tosca’s crew includes an Iranian captain and Iranian personnel, though it is unclear whether all crew members are Iranian nationals.
Two additional sources added that vessels of the Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines group are under the control of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, their crews are typically Iranian, and they sometimes employ Pakistani sailors.
According to satellite imagery analysis conducted by the data analysis firm Sinomax, the vessel was spotted at the Chinese port of Taicang, north of Shanghai, on March 25, and arrived at the southern Chinese port of Gaolan on March 29–30.
The analysis added that the vessel was loaded with containers in Gaolan, then stopped near the Port Klang anchorage in Malaysia on April 11–12, where additional containers were loaded. The vessel was carrying containers when it arrived in the Gulf of Oman on Sunday.
A spokesperson for China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed concern over the “forced interception” by the United States of an Iranian-flagged cargo ship and urged the concerned parties to responsibly adhere to the ceasefire agreement.
U.S. President Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social on Sunday that the Tosca is subject to U.S. sanctions due to its “past record of illegal activities,” adding that U.S. forces are “verifying what it is carrying on board.”
The U.S. Navy said in a statement issued on Thursday that U.S. forces have expanded their maritime blockade against Iran to include shipments considered prohibited, and that any vessels suspected of attempting to reach Iranian territory would be subject to the “right of visit and inspection during an armed conflict.” Prohibited goods include weapons and ammunition.
