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

Iran declared on Sunday, April 19, 2026, that it had closed the Strait of Hormuz after briefly reopening it. U.S. counterparts, including Vice President JD Vance. U.S. and Iran, agreed to two weeks ago, is set to expire on Wednesday, April 22, 2026.

U.S. and Iran make a deal. According to the International Transport Worker's Federation, 20,000 seafarers are stranded on ships around the Persian Gulf due to security concerns in the Strait of Hormuz. One seafarer reported to ABC News that vessels in the area are rationing food and water, crews are not getting properly paid, and crew changes are very hard to perform.

Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi said in a statement on social media on Friday, April 17, 2026, that Iran had reopened the Strait of Hormuz for all commercial vessels in accordance with a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Lebanon. India claimed on Saturday, April 18, 2026, that Iranian forces fired on two Indian-flagged ships attempting to cross the Strait of Hormuz.

India's Ministry of External Affairs summoned the Iranian ambassador to India to discuss the shooting incident on Saturday, April 18, 2026. India's Foreign Secretary conveyed India's deep concern at the shooting incident and stressed the importance of the safety of merchant ships and their crews during the meeting with the Iranian ambassador.

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.