Iran’s Revolutionary Guard has blocked two Indian oil tankers from passing through the Strait of Hormuz, a strategically crucial waterway. According to Arab media, the Iranian gunboats fired warning shots at the tankers, which were carrying 20 million barrels of Iraqi oil. The British Maritime Agency reported an incident 20 nautical miles northeast of Oman, with Iranian Revolutionary Guard gunboats approaching the tankers.
Iran has reportedly reopened the Strait of Hormuz after earlier closing it due to the ongoing US-Iran tensions. In a statement, the Revolutionary Guard claimed that the US was engaging in maritime piracy by enforcing a so-called blockade on Iranian ports. The Iranian military maintains strategic control over the Strait of Hormuz and will continue to keep it under close surveillance until the US lifts its restrictions on Iranian shipping.
The US had earlier announced that it would maintain its restrictions on Iranian ports despite the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. Meanwhile, a British parliamentary motion calling for an emergency debate on Israel was tabled by 75 members. The US President, Donald Trump, had earlier announced that the US would not extend the ceasefire, which is set to expire on Tuesday, and would resume attacks on Iran if it did not agree to a deal.
The Brazilian President suggested that the five permanent members of the UN Security Council would need to review their stance if the UN failed to prevent the war. According to Arab media, the Iranian ambassador was handed a protest note over the attack on Indian oil tankers and commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz.
Prior to the outbreak of conflict, US officials met with top executives from General Motors and Ford, among other car manufacturers, to discuss their role in producing military equipment. Iran will respond formally to the US proposals after reviewing them, according to the Supreme National Security Council. The council of Iran’s National Security Commission, led by Ibrahim Azizi, has called for a new maritime system to be enforced in the Strait of Hormuz.
However, government sources have denied that a second round of talks between the US and Iran is scheduled to take place in Islamabad next week. Despite the ongoing crisis, a determined worker from Pakistan has refused to give up, even in the face of darkness, hunger, and thirst.
In a surprising move, Indian actor and comedian Ali Asgar has revealed the reason behind his decision to leave the popular TV show “The Kapil Sharma Show.” A spokesperson for the State Bank of Pakistan has confirmed that the amount was a safe deposit in the Pakistani account.
