America's president, Donald Trump, has confirmed that American forces launched a missile targeting an Iranian cargo ship within the Gulf of Oman.

According to a recent post on his Truth Social account, President Donald J. Trump reported that the American Navy intercepted an Iranian-flagged cargo ship in the Gulf of Oman.

He said the cargo ship, which is nearly 900 feet long and weighs the size of an aircraft carrier, tried to get past the US Navy ship USS SPRUANCE, which gave the ship a “fair warning to stop”.

In a post shared on X by the Secretary of War, Peter Hegseth, the U.S. Navy disabled an Iranian cargo vessel by striking its engine room after the crew refused to stop despite the warning. President Trump further noted that the ship was already under U.S. Treasury sanctions for past illicit operations and confirmed that the ship is now in American custody.

This escalation in US and Iran relations follows President Trump’s recent ultimatum regarding nuclear and diplomatic negotiations. While the president signalled a willingness to return to the negotiation table, the offer was highlighted by a stern warning. Iran must reach an agreement or face a potential resumption of American aerial strikes.

The strike on the Iranian-flagged cargo ship marks the resumption of hostilities between the two nations, who last week agreed on a two-week ceasefire as they appeared to be close to reaching a peace deal.

Tehran has announced the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a move that directly contradicts President Trump’s recent claims of a diplomatic breakthrough. Only days ago, the President stated that Iran had agreed to unconditionally reopen the key shipping lane, surrender its uranium enrichment hidden underground to the United States, and also unconditionally reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

The report of the free passage in the Strait of Hormuz quickly positively impacted stock prices in the US, with crude oil also dropping to below $90 as many countries expressed optimism that the inflow of supply from the Middle East would ease the current global energy crisis.

Tensions in the Persian Gulf have escalated as Iran maintains its refusal to grant free passage to American and Israeli-affiliated shipping. This maritime defiance has been met with a forceful response from Washington; President Trump has dispatched a naval task force to shutter the Strait to Iranian commerce, effectively stopping all oil tankers coming from Iran following the failed peace talks.

The U.S. and Iran conflict has reached a critical stage as a second round of high-stakes negotiations is scheduled for Islamabad, Pakistan. These talks follow a deadlock in previous discussions, which Vice President JD Vance characterised as the point where the United States delivered its final offer.