SAEDNEWS: Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has released an official statement regarding what it described as harassment by the United States against an Iranian commercial ship.
According to the political desk of Saed News Agency, Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement today (Tuesday, April 21) condemning the United States for its alleged attack on an Iranian commercial vessel and the detention of its crew and their families.
The statement strongly denounces what it describes as an illegal and “barbaric” action by the U.S. military in targeting the Iranian commercial ship Toska on the evening of Sunday, April 19, 2026, near Iran’s coastline in the Gulf of Oman.
According to the statement, the incident involved intimidation of the ship’s sailors, crew members, and their families. It characterizes the act as piracy and terrorism, asserting that it violates fundamental principles of the United Nations Charter and international law. The statement also describes the incident as a clear breach of the ceasefire agreement dated April 8, 2026, and an act of aggression against the Islamic Republic of Iran.
Iran has called on the Secretary-General of the United Nations, members of the UN Security Council, and the International Maritime Organization to address the matter. It has urged these international bodies and responsible governments to condemn the action and respond decisively to what it calls a criminal act against international commercial shipping.
The Ministry further warned of the dangerous consequences of such actions and emphasized the need for the immediate release of the Iranian vessel, its crew, and their families.
In conclusion, the statement affirms that Iran will use all available means to defend its national interests, security, and the rights and dignity of its citizens. It adds that responsibility for any further escalation in the region lies with the United States.
The reported incident occurred on Sunday night, April 19, when the U.S. allegedly targeted the container ship Toska and detained its crew.
Earlier, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei described the move as a violation of the ceasefire between Iran and the United States.
Additionally, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, in a phone call on Monday with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, referred to what he called continued illegal and provocative U.S. actions against Iranian ports and vessels—including the Toska incident—and stated that such behavior, along with inconsistent positions by U.S. leaders, contradicts claims of diplomacy. He emphasized that Iran is closely monitoring developments and will take appropriate measures to safeguard its national interests and security.
