US-Iran war LIVE updates: US launches new Iran strikes for fourth day, renews naval blockade | Today’s news
US-Iran War LIVE Update: The US military on Tuesday (local time) carried out a new round of strikes against Iran for the fourth straight day, reimposing a naval blockade to prevent ships from sailing to or from the country’s ports. The development came hours after US President Donald Trump backtracked on his threat to heavily tax ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz. He later warned that Washington would expand strikes on Iran’s power plants and bridges next week if the Islamic republic does not agree to the deal. In an interview with Fox News, he said: “Next week is going to be really bad for them because next week the power plants are coming. Next week the bridges are coming,” adding: “We’re going to knock out all their power plants. We’re going to knock out all their bridges if they don’t come to the table and negotiate.”
US targets Iran’s shipping network with new sanctions
As tensions between the US and Iran escalate, Washington on Tuesday imposed new sanctions targeting Iran’s maritime network. The latest sanctions are aimed at strengthening efforts to disrupt Tehran’s transportation network, which Washington says helps evade previous sanctions for oil sales and other activities. The new sanctions were imposed on Mohammad Hossein Shamkhani’s network and represent the latest effort by the US Treasury Department to increase economic pressure on Tehran, the department said. The US Treasury further noted that the Shamkhani network is “a major force behind Iran’s oil exports and has expanded into global container shipping and commodity trading”.
India has ordered a “Seafarer-First” response amid heightened maritime vigilance in West Asia
Hours after Iranian cruise missiles killed an Indian sailor aboard a UAE-linked vessel, the Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW), Sarbananda Sonowal, on Tuesday launched a comprehensive “Seafarer-First” response that guides a whole-of-government approach to protect every Indian seafarer operating in the conflict-affected region. In a high-level meeting, Sonowal ordered real-time monitoring of individual vessels, appointment of dedicated liaison officers for each affected Indian sailor and round-the-clock coordination by the ministry in collaboration with Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoPNG), Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers, Indian Navy, Directorate General of Indian Navy and ODGS
Iran attacked seven commercial ships: US Central Command
The head of the US Central Command said on Tuesday (local time) that Iran had deliberately attacked seven commercial ships in the past seven days, killing, wounding or missing “nearly a dozen” civilian crew members. In a statement posted on social media, Admiral Brad Cooper said: “Iranian forces also launched dozens of missiles and drones towards neighboring Gulf countries.”
