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.
Iran War Live Updates: Iran Misses AFC Meeting Amid Visa Concerns
Iran's soccer federation representatives missed the largest formal meeting of Asia's soccer leaders before this summer's World Cup. Concerns have risen that visa issues could affect the Iranian delegation's travel to the AFC Congress in Vancouver, Thursday's FIFA Congress, and the World Cup starting June 11. At the AFC Congress, when the nine qualified AFC teams received commemorative gifts, it was announced Iran would get theirs "once they arrive."
Iran War Live Updates: Red Cross Aims To Assess Humanitarian Situation In Iran
The president of the International Committee of the Red Cross has arrived in Iran to meet with officials and local affiliates and assess the war's humanitarian consequences.
Mirjana Spoljaric will also discuss efforts of the Geneva-based humanitarian organization to ship more relief supplies to Iran, notably through the Iranian Red Crescent Society.
The ICRC says it delivered more than 170 tons of essential relief items to help people affected by the conflict this month, with more medical items and forensic supplies on their way.
Her visit is part of a trip through the region that involves bilateral discussions to help ensure respect for the rules of war, the organisation said.
(Source: AP)
Iran War Live Updates: King Charles Urges US To Reject Isolationism In Landmark Speech
King Charles III called on the US to maintain its leadership role in the world, and to support Ukraine and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, in a remarkably pointed speech for a monarch that urged Americans to resist the pull of isolationism.
Iran War Live Updates: Meloni Targets Energy Prices Amid Iran War
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)
Iran War Live Updates: Militarily Defeated Iran, Says Trump
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..."
Iran War Live Updates: Trump's $1.5 Trillion Defense Plan Draws Rare Republican Pushback
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.
Iran War Live Updates: Iran Port Traffic Jams Under US Blockade
Iran War Live Updates: US Marines Board Ship Over Iran Blockade
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.
Iran War Live Updates: Brent Crude Prices Pause Near $111
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.
