US-Iran war updates: Navy primed for Middle East deployment, Trump confirms blockade on Strait of Hormuz
Australia’s incoming defence chief has declared the Navy is ready for Middle East deployment after Donald Trump confirmed a new blockade on the Strait of Hormuz.
Scroll down for the latest news and updates.
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Trump ‘blockading any and all ships’ in Strait of Hormuz
US big winner in Strait of Hormuz blockade
US President Donald Trump says ships are now lining up to take US oil after he announced a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.
“Boats are sailing up, heading to OUR country, big, beautiful tankers. We’re loading them up with oil, gas, and everything else,” he told reporters outside the White House.
“It’s a pretty beautiful thing to see.”
US confirms when blockade begins
US CENTCOM says the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz will begin at 10.00am ET on Monday, midnight AEST on Tuesday.
The blockade will be enforced “impartially against vessels of all nations entering or departing Iranian ports and coastal areas”.
“CENTCOM forces will not impede freedom of navigation for vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz to and from non-Iranian ports,” CENTCOM said in a statement.
US CENTCOM move in on Strait of Hormuz operation
The US Central Command (CENTCOM) has confirmed it is commencing operations to clear underwater mines in the Strait of Hormuz.
“U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) forces began setting conditions for clearing mines in the Strait of Hormuz, April 11, as two U.S. Navy guided-missile destroyers conducted operations,” it said in a statement.
“USS Frank E. Peterson (DDG 121) and USS Michael Murphy (DDG 112) transited the Strait of Hormuz and operated in the Arabian Gulf as part of a broader mission to ensure the strait is fully clear of sea mines previously laid by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps.
Adm. Brad Cooper, commander of CENTCOM added: “Today, we began the process of establishing a new passage and we will share this safe pathway with the maritime industry soon to encourage the free flow of commerce.”
Trump ‘blockading any and all ships’ in Strait of Hormuz
US President Donald Trump has announced a total blockade on ships entering or attempting to enter or exit the Strait of Hormuz.
“Effective immediately, the United States Navy, the Finest in the World, will begin the process of BLOCKADING any and all Ships trying to enter, or leave, the Strait of Hormuz,” Mr Trump wrote on Truth Social.
“At some point, we will reach an ‘ALL BEING ALLOWED TO GO IN, ALL BEING ALLOWED TO GO OUT’ basis, but Iran has not allowed that to happen by merely saying, ‘There may be a mine out there somewhere,’ that nobody knows about but them.
“THIS IS WORLD EXTORTION, and Leaders of Countries, especially the United States of America, will never be extorted.”
The announcement does not include a timeframe for when the Strait of Hormuz may be reopened.
