U.S. Seizes Iranian-Flagged Ship for Alleged Dual-Use Cargo Amid Tensions
The U.S. military has seized the Iranian-flagged container ship Touska, suspecting it of carrying dual-use items that could be utilized for military purposes. The ship, part of the Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines (IRISL), was intercepted off the coast of Iran's Chabahar port in the Gulf of Oman. The U.S. Central Command reported that the vessel did not comply with warnings over a six-hour period, violating a U.S. blockade. The ship, which had previously transported items considered dual-use, was traveling from China and had made stops in Malaysia before reaching the Gulf of Oman. The U.S. has imposed sanctions on IRISL, citing its role in transporting materials for Iran's ballistic missile program. Iran's military has accused the U.S. of 'armed piracy' and expressed readiness to confront U.S. forces, although they are constrained by the presence of crew members' families on board. 
