[Iranian Semi-official media] Iranian military claims "UAV strike on US warship... in response to merchant ship seizure"

A container ship passing the Iranian coast

The Iranian military carried out an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) attack on a US warship, Iran's semi-official Tasnim news agency reported on the 19th (local time).

Hatam al-Anbiya Central Command claimed through its spokesperson on the same day that it struck a US warship in response to the US seizure of an Iranian vessel.

The Central Command warned, "If America's acts of piracy and aggression continue, military responses to them will also continue."

However, the US military has not issued a statement regarding Iran's claim of striking a warship.

It has not yet been confirmed whether the Iranian military actually carried out military retaliation against some US warships using drones, or if Tasnim's report is propaganda for domestic political purposes.

Tasnim news agency is well known as a media outlet representing Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps, which exerts strong influence over the US-Iran peace talks.

Iran's Central Command declared the US seizure of an Iranian merchant ship a violation of the truce agreement and announced its intention to retaliate.

The merchant ship seized by the US military was reportedly en route from China to the Gulf of Oman.

US President Donald Trump announced on his social media platform Truth Social that an Iranian cargo ship named 'Tusca' was stopped after attempting to break through a US naval blockade.

The US Central Command explained that it warned the Tusca, which was heading to Bandar Abbas in southern Iran, that it was violating the US blockade, but it did not comply for six hours. The US military then ordered the evacuation of the engine room and fired several rounds from a 5-inch (127mm) MK45 naval gun to disable its propulsion system.

Central Command added that the US 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit subsequently boarded the Tusca, and the Tusca is currently detained.

The renewed tension between the US and Iran over the Strait of Hormuz, a major shipping route for global crude oil, is expected to be a new negative factor in the two-week truce and peace talks, which are set to expire on the 21st.