Iran Urges UN to Secure Release of Seized Touska Vessel and Crew

In a letter addressed to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and the President of the Security Council, Iran’s Ambassador to the UN, Amir Saeid Iravani, accused U.S. forces of carrying out a hostile operation against the commercial vessel Touska on April 19 in the Sea of Oman, close to Iranian waters.

According to Iravani, the incident involved coercive measures, intimidation, and actions that endangered the safety of the crew, which he said constituted a clear breach of international law.

The Iranian envoy, acting on instructions from Tehran, described the operation as a “blatant violation” of legal norms, including the prohibition of aggression, and argued that it displayed characteristics akin to piracy.

He further stated that the incident violated a ceasefire agreement reached on April 8 and amounted to an act of aggression as defined under UN General Assembly Resolution 3314 (1974), warning that it poses a risk to both regional and global stability.

Tehran strongly condemned the U.S. action, calling on the UN Security Council and the secretary-general to adopt a firm and immediate position, explicitly denounce the incident, ensure accountability, and compel Washington to release the vessel, its crew, and all affected individuals without conditions.

Iravani also requested that the letter be formally recorded and circulated as an official document of the UN Security Council.