WANA (Apr 22) – The Islamic Republic of Iran has called for the immediate and unconditional release of the commercial vessel Touska, along with its crew and all individuals affected by the incident.

 

In a letter addressed to UN Secretary-General António Guterres and the President of the UN Security Council, Iran’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations urged them to compel the United States to “ensure the immediate and unconditional release of the commercial vessel Touska, its crew, their families, and all persons impacted by this incident.”

 

Amir Saeid Iravani, Iran’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the UN, wrote on Tuesday local time that, “upon instructions from my government, and with reference to my letter dated April 13, 2026, I wish to draw your urgent attention—and that of the Security Council members—to the continued internationally wrongful acts committed by the United States against the Islamic Republic of Iran, including the deliberate targeting of Iranian commercial vessels.”

 

Iravani stated that on April 19, 2026, US military forces carried out a “hostile and unlawful attack” against the Iranian commercial vessel Touska near Iran’s coast in the Sea of Oman. He said the attack involved coercion, intimidation, and reckless endangerment of the lives of the ship’s crew and their families.

 

He emphasized that the act against a civilian vessel constitutes a “clear and flagrant violation of fundamental principles of international law, including the peremptory norm prohibiting aggression.” He added that the deliberate intimidation and psychological distress inflicted on the crew and their families further aggravated the severity of the act, describing it as bearing the characteristics of piracy and posing a serious threat to maritime safety and vital shipping lanes.

 

Iravani further noted that the incident represents a “clear and fundamental violation” of the ceasefire dated April 8, 2026, and, under Article 3(c) of UN General Assembly Resolution 3314 (1974), qualifies as an act of aggression. He warned that the action poses a serious threat to regional and international peace and security, further destabilizing an already fragile situation.

 

“Iran firmly rejects and strongly condemns this unlawful act by the United States,” Iravani said, calling on the United Nations—particularly the Security Council and the Secretary-General—to adopt an immediate, decisive, and principled stance. He urged them to explicitly condemn the act, ensure full accountability for those responsible, and compel the United States to release the vessel, its crew, their families, and all affected individuals without delay or conditions.

 

He also requested that the letter be registered and circulated as an official document of the UN Security Council.

 

Separately, Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement on Tuesday, April 21, 2026, strongly condemning what it described as the “illegal and brutal attack” by the “terrorist US military” on the Iranian commercial vessel Touska, which took place on Sunday evening, April 19, near Iran’s coast in the Sea of Oman.

 

The ministry added that the act—accompanied by intimidation of the ship’s crew and their families—constitutes “piracy and a terrorist act,” violating the fundamental principles of the UN Charter and international law. It further described the incident as another clear breach of the April 8 ceasefire understanding and an act of aggression against the Islamic Republic of Iran.