Fact Check: Video Falsely Claims US Forces Seized Iranian Ship in Strait of Hormuz

US Naval Exercise Footage Falsely Portrayed as Iranian Ship Seizure

Misinformation regarding a supposed US military operation against an Iranian vessel has been circulating widely across social media platforms since April 20, 2026. Multiple accounts shared footage claiming to show American forces seizing an Iranian commercial ship during a naval blockade in the Strait of Hormuz. However, fact-checking has revealed the video actually depicts a US naval exercise from October 2025.

The misleading content gained significant traction when a self-described Yemeni activist shared the footage on X (formerly Twitter), with the inflammatory caption: “Moments of the US Army’s control over the Iranian ship yesterday and the arrest of its crew — there is none more cowardly than the Shia when it comes to direct confrontation.” This post alone garnered over 275,000 views.

Another viral iteration of the same video claimed that then-President Donald Trump had announced the interception of an Iranian cargo ship named Touska by the USS Spruance in the Gulf of Oman. The post, which accumulated 129,000 views, included fabricated quotes attributed to Trump detailing how US Marines allegedly gained control of the vessel after firing upon its engine room.

The false narrative spread rapidly across multiple platforms, including Instagram and YouTube, collectively amassing hundreds of thousands of views. The claims gained particular traction given the genuine tensions between the United States and Iran in the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz, through which approximately one-fifth of global oil shipments pass.

Fact-checkers began investigating by conducting keyword searches across reputable international, American, and Iranian news outlets, finding no corroborating reports of such an incident. A reverse image search revealed the original source of the footage: an Instagram post from October 6, 2025, by Spanish journalist Eduardo Menoni, who correctly identified it as “Navy military exercises today on its 250th anniversary.”

Further confirmation came from official US military sources. The Defence Visual Information Distribution Service (DVIDS), an official military media organization under the Department of War Information Activity, had published the complete footage on its website. Titled “Titans of the Sea Presidential Review aboard USS George H.W. Bush,” the video shows President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump visiting the aircraft carrier during celebrations marking the US Navy’s 250th anniversary.

The official Facebook page for the USS George H.W. Bush also featured the same footage in its proper context, providing definitive evidence that the video had been misappropriated.

The viral misrepresentation comes at a sensitive time in US-Iran relations. Tensions have indeed escalated in the Strait of Hormuz amid efforts for a second round of diplomatic talks. The United States has increased its naval presence and implemented restrictive measures in the waterway, while Iran has asserted its influence over the strait and warned that continued pressure could disrupt international shipping.

Adding to the complexity, a legitimate incident did occur when US forces reportedly opened fire on an Iranian-linked vessel in the Strait of Hormuz before seizing it. Washington characterized this action as a security measure, while Iranian officials denounced it as a violation of international law and existing ceasefire agreements.

This case highlights the dangers of misinformation in conflict zones, where decontextualized or manipulated media can inflame tensions and complicate diplomatic efforts. It also demonstrates how quickly false information can spread across social media platforms, particularly when it aligns with existing narratives about geopolitical adversaries.

The fact-checking investigation was conducted by iVerify Pakistan, a joint project of CEJ-IBA and the United Nations Development Programme, underscoring the importance of international cooperation in combating misinformation that could potentially exacerbate global conflicts.