Iran-US battle newest: Tehran calls opening Strait of Hormuz ‘impossible’ as US navy chief steps down | EUROtoday

Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan has warned that the US-Israeli battle in opposition to Iran is “starting to weaken Europe” in remarks to his German counterpart, Frank-Walter Steinmeier.

Speaking on Wednesday, Erdogan mentioned: “The war in our region is likewise starting to weaken Europe, and if we do not address this situation with an approach that prioritises peace, the damage caused by the conflict will be far greater.”

He added that the nation was working to finish the Russia-Ukraine battle by means of negotiations – simply as it’s doing within the Iran battle – with the purpose of attaining a long-lasting peace.

In Tehran, regardless of Donald Trump’s extension of the ceasefire deadline, individuals stay tense and unsure.

According to Sky News, the streets had been quieter than standard, with fewer individuals exterior, as many worry the battle might restart at any second. Some had even left town earlier than the extension was introduced.

Despite heavy US-Israeli bombing earlier, authorities have cleared seen injury and are working shortly to restore affected areas.

An area store proprietor informed the outlet: “Are we back in limbo again? What’s stopping them? It feels like they want war again.”

Masoud Pezeshkian wrote on X that the US was exhibiting the world “its endless hypocritical rhetoric and contradiction between claims and actions”.

He wrote on X: “The Islamic Republic of Iran has welcomed dialogue and agreement and continues to do so. Breach of commitments, blockade and threats are main obstacles to genuine negotiations.”

His feedback got here after the US refused to raise its blockade of Iranian ports.

The White House has additionally accused Iran of appearing “like a bunch of pirates” after its Revolutionary ⁠Guard Corps Navy fired on three ships and captured two of them as they tried to undergo the Strait of Hormuz.

White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt mentioned that the US blockade of Iran’s ports was extremely efficient at choking Iran’s economic system.

The Strait of Hormuz stays successfully closed, with Iran saying it’s “impossible” to reopen it as a result of what it calls ceasefire violations by the US and Israel.

Iranian forces have seized two ships and are implementing their very own blockade, whereas the US can be sustaining a separate blockade.

Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, the speaker of the Iranian parliament and lead negotiator, wrote on X: “A complete ceasefire only makes sense if it is not violated by the maritime blockade and the hostage-taking of the world’s economy, and if the Zionist warmongering across all fronts is halted; reopening the Strait of Hormuz is impossible with such a flagrant breach of the ceasefire.

“They did not achieve their goals through military aggression, nor will they through bullying. The only way forward is to recognise the rights of the Iranian nation.”

Trump has threatened genocide in opposition to Iran when he mentioned on social media that “tonight an entire civilisation will die”. Making such statements is felony, and entails his armed forces in potential violations of worldwide legislation.

US Central Command has shared a video of what it calls the “most lethal military the world has ever known” deployed within the Middle East.

The evaluation factors to probably long-lasting financial penalties, because the strait — now topic to dueling US and Iranian blockades — is a vital commerce artery that carried 20 p.c of the world’s oil earlier than the battle.

The US navy has mentioned it directed 31 ships to show round throughout its blockade of Iranian ports.

US Central Command added that almost all of vessels have complied with the blockade.

Panama has condemned what it known as the “illegal seizure” of a ship touring below its flag within the Strait of Hormuz.

The Italian-owned MSC Francesca was “forcibly taken” by Iranian authorities Wednesday, Panama’s international ministry mentioned in an announcement.

“Such actions increase tensions in the Gulf and are contrary to international law”, the Central American nation mentioned. “Furthermore, they represent a serious threat to maritime security and constitute an unnecessary escalation at a time when the international community is advocating for the Strait of Hormuz to remain open to international navigation without threats or blackmail of any kind”.

It’s not clear whether or not the ship stays in Iranian custody.

The Pentagon has informed US lawmakers that it might take six months to clear mines that Iran laid within the Strait of Hormuz, in line with a brand new report.

Members of the House Armed Services Committee had been privately briefed on the matter Tuesday, sources informed The Washington Post.

Removal of the mines is unlikely to be undertaken till the Iran battle ends, the Pentagon reportedly informed Congress.