Vance says US now focused on free flow of commerce in Hormuz Strait
Vance says US now focused on free flow of commerce in Hormuz Strait US Vice President JD Vance said that Washington is now focused on "free flow of commerce" through the Strait of Hormuz. During an interview with Fox News, Vance said the attacks on Iran's Larak Island was in response to "Iranians who were about to lace the mines" and that now a lot of Washington is doing is "actually ensuring the…
In a recent development, the United States and Iran exchanged fire for the first time in a month, with missiles and drones targeting Iranian rocket launchers on an island in the Strait of Hormuz. In response, Iran targeted US military bases in Jordan and the United Arab Emirates. President Donald Trump threatened further action in reaction to the Iranian retaliation.
The US aims to loosen Iran's control over the Strait of Hormuz, which accounts for a fifth of the world's seaborne energy supply. The US Central Command launched the first strikes on Iran since July, acting after detecting Iranians planning to deploy mines in the strait. The IRGC retaliated by targeting technical infrastructure at US-operated airbases in Jordan and intercepting a drone over UAE waters.
Trump vowed to "hit them hard" following the Iranian reprisals. Iran claimed a tanker caught fire after hitting Iranian naval mines while passing through the southern side of the strait. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian met with Pakistan's prime minister, expressing his reluctance to continue the war and readiness to implement a mediated June memorandum of understanding with the US.
Iran's currency faced renewed pressure, causing concern among MPs. The latest fighting involved the US claiming it attacked Larak Island, while Iran stated its air defenses shot down a US MQ-9 drone. Despite the US claiming control of the strait, tanker tracking agency Tanker Trackers reported a significant drop in crude oil exports via the Strait of Hormuz.
G20 finance ministers are expected to clash over US demands for more countries to impose sanctions on Iran. China, a major Iranian oil customer, opposes the new US sanctions campaign.
Written by urgent.news from People Daily Kenya's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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