Iran announces the arrival of a cargo ship despite a U.S. claim of intercepting it
The Fars News Agency reported that an Iranian cargo vessel reached the country via the Sea of Oman, despite an attempt by the U.S. Navy to seize it amid the blockade imposed on Iranian ports, which Tehran rejects.
The Iranian agency stated that a bulk carrier transporting rice managed to cross the Sea of Oman safely. It added that the vessel, which the U.S. Navy allegedly tried to detain, reached Iran after being escorted by naval units of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
Earlier on Thursday, U.S. President Donald Trump announced that the U.S. Navy had taken control of an Iranian vessel named “Tosca” after intercepting it in the Gulf of Oman, claiming it was attempting to break the maritime blockade.
On Friday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China rejected Trump’s allegation that the Iranian-flagged vessel intercepted by U.S. forces was “a gift from China.”
Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun told reporters that normal trade between countries should not be disrupted.
On April 20, the United States Central Command announced that since the blockade began on April 13 against vessels entering or leaving Iranian ports and coastal areas, U.S. forces had instructed 27 ships to turn back or head toward an Iranian port.
The U.S. president had previously announced, following the failure of the first round of negotiations with Iran in Pakistan, the start of imposing a blockade on the Strait of Hormuz. He also announced on Tuesday the extension of the truce with Iran at Pakistan’s request, pending Tehran’s proposal, without specifying a time frame.
High-level military meetings were held in London, bringing together military planners from more than 40 countries, including some seeking to join an initiative led by the United Kingdom and France to ensure the continued openness of the Strait of Hormuz after the war with Iran ends.
According to the British agency PA Media, military representatives took part in a two-day conference at the Permanent Joint Headquarters of British forces in Northwood Headquarters, where they discussed possible security arrangements to protect international navigation through one of the world’s most strategic maritime passages.
These talks follow earlier diplomatic and military efforts after meetings between British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris last week, which focused on shaping a joint defense framework aimed at enhancing maritime route security and restoring confidence in global trade flows through the region.
During the meetings, UK Defence Secretary John Healey emphasized the crucial importance of the strait, stating that the stability of this vital passage affects the lives of “millions of people” worldwide due to the dependence of international markets on energy flows and maritime trade passing through it.
The proposed initiative seeks to establish an international coordination force capable of securing the maritime passage in the post-war phase, amid fears of ongoing security threats or navigation disruptions in the absence of clear arrangements. These efforts are viewed as an attempt to strengthen international cooperation in one of the world’s most sensitive maritime corridors, amid escalating geopolitical challenges and in order to prevent any security vacuum that could threaten global supply chains.
The United States and Israel launched a war against Iran on February 28, which left more than 3,000 dead, before Washington and Tehran announced on April 8 a temporary truce mediated by Pakistan, in the hope of reaching an agreement to end the conflict.
