Trump calls recent seizure of Iranian ship 'like pirates', refers to US Navy
Former President Trump described the recent US Navy's seizure of an Iranian cargo ship as "somewhat like pirates." He highlighted the profitability of such actions, which are part of the US-Israeli naval blockade against Iran.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: May 2, 2026 at 13:25
- 🔍 Collected: May 2, 2026 at 13:31 (6 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 2, 2026 at 13:37 (5 min after Collected)
WASHINGTON (CNA) — US President Donald Trump, when discussing the US Navy's recent firing and seizure of an Iranian cargo ship, described the US Navy as "somewhat like pirates" during the US-Israel war against Iran, enforcing the US naval blockade on Iranian ports.
CNN reported that Trump stated at an event tonight, "We have such a great military, a powerful navy."
He recalled a recent incident where the US military fired at the engine room of a ship attempting to ram what he called a "steel wall." He appeared to be referring to the incident last month when the USS Spruance intercepted the Iranian-flagged "Touska," which violated blockade rules and attempted to sail to an Iranian port.
Trump said, "The ship stopped. They used tugboats... and then we boarded the ship, took over that ship, we took over the cargo, and we took over the oil. It's a very profitable business." He joked that such actions were "like pirates."
At the time of the seizure, the Iranian military called it "maritime highway robbery" and "piracy."
According to a post on the Telegram messaging app by the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB), the Iranian military stated at the time: "We warn that the armed forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran will soon respond and retaliate against this armed piracy by the United States." (Translator: Chang Hsiao-wen) 1150502
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CNN reported that Trump stated at an event tonight, "We have such a great military, a powerful navy."
He recalled a recent incident where the US military fired at the engine room of a ship attempting to ram what he called a "steel wall." He appeared to be referring to the incident last month when the USS Spruance intercepted the Iranian-flagged "Touska," which violated blockade rules and attempted to sail to an Iranian port.
Trump said, "The ship stopped. They used tugboats... and then we boarded the ship, took over that ship, we took over the cargo, and we took over the oil. It's a very profitable business." He joked that such actions were "like pirates."
At the time of the seizure, the Iranian military called it "maritime highway robbery" and "piracy."
According to a post on the Telegram messaging app by the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB), the Iranian military stated at the time: "We warn that the armed forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran will soon respond and retaliate against this armed piracy by the United States." (Translator: Chang Hsiao-wen) 1150502
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The text, images, and audio-visual content on this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, publicly transmitted, or utilized without authorization.