Iran Accused of Attacking Indian Ships; U.S. Seizes Iranian Vessel in Strait of Hormuz

Audio shared with ABC News captures a radio message from the Indian-flagged oil tanker Sanmar Herald as it was reportedly attacked by Iran in the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday, April 18, 2026. com, shows the sun rising behind tankers anchored off the coast of Qeshm Island, Iran, on that day.

“Sepah Navy! Sepah Navy! This is motor tanker Sanmar Herald! You gave me clearance to go! My name second on your list! You gave me clearance to go! You are firing now! U.S. calls off its naval blockade of all Iranian ports. President Donald Trump acknowledged Iran's move on Saturday, April 18, 2026, saying the country 'got a little cute' and 'They wanted to close up the strait again. U.S. Gen. U.S. forces enforcing the blockade would hunt Iranian-flagged vessels or any vessels materially supporting Iran in Iranian territorial and international waters. U.S. blockade operations in the Arabian Sea on April 16, 2026. U.S. Central Command posted a video online on Sunday, April 19, 2026, showing Marines from the USS Tripoli seizing the Iranian-flagged cargo ship M/V Touska in the Gulf of Oman just outside the Strait of Hormuz. U.S. forces over a six-hour period before being seized. The M/V Touska was fired upon and disabled by the guided-missile destroyer USS Spruance, after which Marines from the USS Tripoli boarded and seized it. U.S. blew a hole in the engine room of the M/V Touska. U.S. of breaking the ceasefire and committing 'maritime piracy' by firing at the M/V Touska, disabling its navigation system, and landing marines on the vessel, according to a statement on FARS on Sunday, April 19, 2026. U.S. Marines were still searching the M/V Touska on Monday, April 20, 2026, inspecting up to 5,000 shipping containers aboard the vessel. U.S.”

-Israel attack on Iran began on February 28, 2026. Gen. Dan Caine displayed a map showing the blockade line in the Strait of Hormuz during a briefing on the Iran war at the Pentagon in Washington on April 16, 2026. @ABC reported these developments, including contributions from Emily Chang, Nicholas Kerr, Othon Leyva, Desiree Adib and Chris Looft.