Washington, April 21 (IANS) US President Donald Trump said it is “highly unlikely” he would extend a two-week ceasefire with Iran if a deal is not reached before it ends this week, according to a Bloomberg report.The Strait of Hormuz would remain blocked until a peace agreement is finalized, Trump said in a phone interview.”They want me to open it. The Iranians desperately want it opened. I’m not opening it until a deal is signed,” he said. Oil prices jumped as Washington maintained its blockade…
Latest US Central Command News & Updates
Washington, April 19 (IANS) The US Central Command has said that the dock landing ship USS Rushmore is conducting blockade operations in the Arabian Sea. Earlier Saturday (local time), it was said on social media that a guided-missile destroyer USS Pinckney is patrolling regional waters in support of the blockade operations. Meanwhile, the USS New Orleans, an amphibious transport dock ship, is monitoring shipping, reports Xinhua news agency.The move came as the Navy of Iran’s Islamic Revolutiona…
Washington, April 16 (IANS) The US on Thursday asserted that it controls maritime traffic in and out of the Strait of Hormuz, dismissing Iranian claims of dominance over the strategic waterway as tensions remain high despite a fragile ceasefire. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said Iran lacked the naval capability and situational awareness to control shipping routes, accusing it of resorting to threats against commercial vessels.”You’d like to say publicly, Iran, that you control the Strait of Ho…
Washington, April 16 (IANS) A US Navy guided-missile destroyer has intercepted and redirected an Iranian-flagged cargo vessel in the Strait of Hormuz, the US Central Command has said. “Yesterday, an Iranian-flagged cargo vessel tried to evade the US blockade after leaving Bandar Abbas, exiting the Strait of Hormuz, and transiting along the Iranian coastline,” the command said on X. on Wednesday (local time). “The guided-missile destroyer USS Spruance (DDG 111) successfully redirected the vessel,…
Washington, April 16 (IANS) Top US commanders in the Indo-Pacific will attend Senate and House committee hearings at the Capitol in Washington next week, Congress’s website showed, amid concerns that the US-Israeli war against Iran could affect America’s focus on countering threats from China and North Korea.Adm. Samuel Paparo, the commander of US Indo-Pacific Command, and US Forces Korea Commander Gen. Xavier Brunson will testify before the Senate and House Armed Services Committees on Tuesday …
London, April 15 (IANS) At least two vessels transited through the Strait of Hormuz en route to Iranian ports after altering their Automatic Identification System (AIS) destination data, following a US blockade on ships entering and leaving Iran, British shipping media reported. The report by British shipping media Lloyd’s List said that following the enforcement of the blockade, some vessels with intended calls at Iranian ports were observed adjusting their AIS destination signals while passing…
Washington, April 15 (IANS) US President Donald Trump said a second round of direct talks with Iran could take place “over the next two days,” signalling a possible diplomatic opening even as the United States presses ahead with a naval blockade targeting Iranian-linked shipping.In an interview with The New York Post, Trump said negotiations could happen soon and pointed to Pakistan as a possible venue. “Something could be happening over the next two days, and we’re more inclined to go t…
Tehran, April 13 (IANS) Iran on Monday severely condemned Washington’s decision to impose restrictions on the transit of vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, terming US President Donald Trump’s decision for a naval blockade starting Monday evening, India time, as an illegal action and an instance of “maritime piracy”. A spokesperson for the Central Headquarters of the Iranian military command asserted that the Iranian Armed Forces consider defending the country’s legal rights a natural and lawful …
Tehran, April 13 (IANS) Iran has accused the United States of derailing a potential breakthrough agreement, saying that “maximalism, shifting goalposts, and blockade tactics” prevented what was “inches away” from becoming the proposed “Islamabad MoU”, after 21 hours of intense negotiations ended without a deal. In a post on X, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran had entered into its highest-level direct engagement with Washington in 47 years with sincerity and intent to help brin…
Washington, April 13 (IANS) The United States will begin enforcing a sweeping maritime blockade of vessels entering or exiting Iranian ports from April 13, escalating tensions after high-stakes talks between Washington and Tehran failed to yield agreement on key issues, including Iran’s nuclear programme.The move, announced by US Central Command (CENTCOM), follows a presidential directive and will target “all maritime traffic entering and exiting Iranian ports”, including those along the A…