Iran said it carried out a drone attack on U.S. warships in retaliation for the U.S. military's firing on and seizure of the Iranian cargo ship Tosca.
On the 20th (local time), the semi-official Tasnim News Agency in Iran reported, "A few hours ago, U.S. terrorist soldiers attacked an Iranian container ship called 'Tosca' (TOSCA) that was heading from China to Iran in the Gulf of Oman," adding, "After the United States attacked this vessel, the Iranian military also carried out drone attacks on several U.S. warships."
The outlet noted, "Iran has already released that it would retaliate against any U.S. action," adding, "As the United States declared a maritime blockade against Iran, Iran also completely blockaded the Strait of Hormuz, and any ship or tanker passing through the area without Iran's permission will be subject to Iranian military sanctions."
Earlier, U.S. President Donald Trump said on Truth Social the previous day, "The Iranian-flagged cargo ship 'Tosca' tried to break through our maritime blockade," adding, "It was a massive vessel 900 feet (about 274 meters) long and nearly as heavy as an aircraft carrier, but things did not go well for them."
He continued, "The U.S. Navy guided-missile destroyer 'USS Spruance' intercepted the vessel in the Gulf of Oman and ordered it to stop, but the Iranian crew refused," adding, "Our Navy stopped the ship in its tracks by punching holes in the engine room."
Iran immediately warned of retaliation. Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, which oversees Iran's military operations, said through Iranian state media that day, "We warn that the armed forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran will soon respond to and retaliate against this 'armed act of piracy' by U.S. forces."