Scan to Download
US Marines boarded a commercial ship in the Arabian Sea suspecting it was headed to Iran in violation of the US-imposed blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. The US Central Command said that the commercial ship M/V Blue Star III was searched and released after ascertaining that it was not headed to an Iranian port. CENTCOM said US forces released the vessel after conducting a search and confirming the ship's voyage would not include an Iranian port call.
The vessel was released after a search determined it was not planning to dock at an Iranian port, it said. CENTCOM added that 39 vessels have been "redirected to ensure compliance" with the blockade.
Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has been severely disrupted since the US-Israeli war against Iran began February 28, rattling global energy markets and raising fears of prolonged economic damage.
The blockade has resulted in ships being anchored at various ports in the region. According to marine traffic monitoring websites, M/V Blue Star III is a container ship sailing under the flag of Comoros and was headed to the port of Sohar in Oman.
Here are the latest updates on the US-Israel-Iran conflict.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said her current priority was to restrain inflationary pressures on prices, especially energy, given the impact from the US-Israeli war against Iran.
"In the current context of international crisis we're facing, the issue of keeping prices and energy under control, of preventing an inflationary impact that clearly crushes GDP growth, has to be considered a step forward," Meloni said during a press conference.
(Source: AFP)
US President Donald Trump says, "...We're doing Middle East work right now... we have militarily defeated that particular opponent, and we're never gonna let that opponent ever. Charles (King Charles III of the United Kingdom) agrees with me even more than I do. We're never gonna let that opponent have a nuclear weapon..."
#WATCH | US President Donald Trump says, "...We're doing Middle East work right now... we have militarily defeated that particular opponent, and we're never gonna let that opponent ever. Charles (King Charles III of the United Kingdom) agrees with me even more than I do. We're… pic.twitter.com/nruJBVWli7
— ANI (@ANI) April 29, 2026
Key congressional Republicans are poised to break with Donald Trump on his proposed 44% raise for the Pentagon, a rare act of defiance that signals the president's weakening grip on Washington as the midterm elections near and he quickly approaches the back half of his second term.
Prior to the U.S. blockade on Iran, 5 ships were moored or anchored in the Iranian port of Chah Bahar on an average day. Today, more than 20 vessels remain in Chah Bahar as U.S. forces cut off economic trade going into and coming out of Iran during the ongoing blockade. pic.twitter.com/eE6vEgsQ8d
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) April 28, 2026
US Marines from the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit boarded commercial ship M/V Blue Star III in the Arabian Sea, suspecting it was headed to Iran in violation of the US blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. CENTCOM said the ship was searched and released after confirming it would not dock at an Iranian port. The command added 39 vessels have been "redirected to ensure compliance" with the blockade.
Earlier today in the Arabian Sea, U.S. Marines from the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit boarded M/V Blue Star III, a commercial ship suspected of attempting to transit to Iran in violation of the U.S. blockade of Iranian ports. U.S. forces released the vessel after conducting a… pic.twitter.com/UFx329OsHj
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) April 28, 2026
Oil prices paused after a sharp climb, as markets tracked uncertain diplomatic signals around the Iran conflict and the fate of the Strait of Hormuz — a chokepoint that remains effectively shut. Brent crude hovered near $111 a barrel after gaining roughly 2.8% in the previous session, while West Texas Intermediate (WTI) traded just above $99.
Essential Business Intelligence, Continuous LIVE TV, Sharp Market Insights, Practical Personal Finance Advice and Latest Stories — On NDTV Profit.
