Iran-US conflict newest: Hegseth says ‘no need to worry’ about assaults in Strait of Hormuz | EUROtoday

NATO on Friday confirmed ⁠its air defences had ⁠shot ​down ⁠a 3rd ⁠ballistic ​missile that ⁠was ‌fired from Iran in the direction of ‌Turkey.

“NATO remains ‌vigilant and ⁠stands firm in its defence of all allies,” NATO ‌Spokesperson ​Allison ‌Hart ⁠stated.

Foreign secretary Yvette Cooper has accused Russia and Iran of attempting to “hijack the global economy” as oil costs soar amid continued battle within the Middle East.

Iran’s new supreme chief has vowed to proceed attacking transport within the Strait of Hormuz, as oil costs soar to round 100 {dollars} per barrel on account of the blockade of the important thing transport route.

Politics reporter Athena Stavrou studies:

Millie Cooke, political correspondent, reports:

Downing Street has hit again at Donald Trump’s resolution to ease sanctions on some Russian oil amid Iran’s blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, saying that every one companions ought to preserve strain on Moscow and its conflict chest.

Asked whether or not Sir Keir Starmer was dissatisfied by the transfer, his official spokesperson advised reporters: “Ultimately, it’s obviously a decision for the US, but our position is clear. All partners should maintain pressure on Russia and its war chest.“

Our support for Ukraine is degrading Russia’s ability to wage war around the globe, both militarily and financially.

“The best way to continue to stop Russia supporting hostile actors is to continue on collective pressure and end the war in Ukraine.”

He additionally dominated out the UK following swimsuit, saying: “Our sanctions remain and there is no question about that. We remain committed to exerting that maximum economic pressure.”

Iran’s Shi’ite allies in Lebanon and Iraq have joined the conflict within the area unleashed ​by US and Israeli strikes on Tehran.

But Yemen’s Houthi rebels, closely armed and able to putting Gulf neighbours and inflicting main disruption to maritime navigation across the Arabian Peninsula, haven’t but entered the fray.

Here is a take a look at why that is perhaps:

On March 5, Houthi chief Abdul Malik Al-Houthi stated his group was able to strike at any second.

Regarding navy escalation and motion, our fingers are on the set off at any second ought to developments warrant it,” he said in a televised speech. But unlike Lebanon’s Hezbollah and Iraqi armed groups, they have not made any formal announcement of joining the war.

Houthi religious doctrine does not adhere to Iran’s supreme leader in the same way Hezbollah and the Iraqi groups do.

While Iran champions the Houthis as part of its regional “Axis of Resistance”, Yemen experts say the movement is motivated primarily by a domestic agenda though they share a political affinity with Iran and Hezbollah.

The US says Iran has armed, funded and trained the Houthis with help from Hezbollah.

The Houthis deny being an Iranian proxy and say they develop their own weapons.

There is no clear evidence that Iran has placed mines in the Strait of Hormuz, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told a news briefing on Friday.

The assessment by Hegseth contrasts with news reports earlier this week suggesting Iran had deployed about a dozen mines in the Strait of Hormuz, the conduit for a fifth of the world’s oil.

Asked about the possibility of mines in the Strait, Hegseth said: “We’ve heard them speak about it identical to you’ve got reported recklessly and wildly about it. But … we’ve got no clear proof of that.”

Hegseth’s comments come as the United States and other countries face spiking oil and gas prices with the US-Israel war entering its 14th day, with oil prices hovering near $100 a barrel on Friday.

Millie Cooke, political correspondent, reports:

Downing Street said RAF jets have been patrolling the skies over Bahrain for Iranian drones.

It is the primary British motion over Bahrain within the present battle.The prime minister’s official spokesman stated: “Overnight, UK jets flew air defence sorties specifically in defence of Bahrain for the first time.

“This saw Typhoon jets patrolling the skies for Iranian drones heading towards Bahrain.

“British Typhoon and F35 jets are now flying in defence of British people, bases and our partners, moving in Qatar, Cyprus, UAE, Jordan and Bahrain.”

Pete Hegseth and General Dan Caine have finished speaking at a press conference. Here is a summary:

They claimed Iran now has no air defences, air force or navy, adding missile volume is down 90 per cent and one-way drone attacks is down 95 per cent.

Iran’s leadership has gone underground, Hegseth claimed, adding that they believe the new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei is wounded.

Both Hegseth and Caine lamented the deaths of four US troops. The former called them “American heroes” while the latter claimed that the incident was not a result of hostile or friendly fire.

Hegseth took aim at CNN for “fake news” following a report that the Trump administration underestimated the impact of the war in Iran.

Both Hegseth and Caine said they were looking at options to help keep the Strait of Hormuz safe for ships.

Hegseth said that the US don’t target civilians in response to questions about the bombing on an all girls’ school in Minab.

Pete Hegseth has affirmed that he believes the mission is clear in terms of the war in Iran.

“Mission creep, or expansive missions, or prolonged timelines, or democracy building or nation building, you name it, has not been part of what President Trump wants us to be involved in.

“We’re solving for something here, this particular mission set, but also recognising this different condition to previous matters, whether it’s George W Bush or Barack Obama or Joe Biden who had these expansive, nebulous mission sets that kept changing all the time.

“So this timeline kept moving, and he kept pouring more troops in and on the ground. And then pretty soon, everyone wonders, like I did in Afghanistan in 2012: ‘what’s our mission here? I’m not I’m not clear what it is.’

“We’re taking the opposite approach here, to say, define these objectives we’re pursuing those objectives, the President has his hand on the problem, she’s a side.

“Ultimately, when they’ve been reached that serve the purposes of the United States, the American interests first.”