US Military Says It Fired on Another Merchant Vessel Trying to Breach Iran's Blockade

The US military said that it fired on another merchant vessel that was trying to breach its blockade of Iran’s ports, while the Islamic Republic targeted American strongholds around the Persian Gulf. The US and Iran showed no sign of backing away from their conflict after a 13th straight night of strikes. With fighting flaring again and diplomacy uncertain, both sides made moves suggesting an escalation was possible.

US embassies in the Middle East began alerting Americans in the region that options to leave could become more limited, while Iran’s Revolutionary Guard advised residents of neighbouring countries to stay away from bases with US troops.

Saudi Arabia struck the port city of Hodeida in Yemen in response to Houthi rebel attacks on Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea, the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen said. The Houthis said they would escalate after tensions have been brewing for weeks, breaking a years-long calm.

American forces disabled the M/T Lavine in the Gulf of Oman after the ship attempted to run the blockade at least four times, Captain Tim Hawkins, US Central Command spokesman, told The Associated Press. Hawkins stressed that the ship’s crew was warned and didn’t comply with commands. The military then fired into its engine room.

Earlier on Friday, US President Donald Trump met with top national security aides to discuss the situation with Iran and whether the administration should maintain the current course or escalate military attacks, according to a US official who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss internal deliberations.

It was not immediately clear if any decisions were made at the meeting, which was earlier reported by The New York Times. The White House didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.

In an event in the Oval Office on Friday, Trump described negotiations with Iran as “by far the most serious that we’ve seen,” even as the US has launched daily strikes. Trump added that he’s “not in a hurry” to end the war.

Vowing that Iran “will not bow to US” bullying, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi noted ongoing discussions with two global powers often at odds with Americans — China and Russia — and warned in an interview with the semi-official news outlet Tasnim that the Islamic Republic is “neither intimidated by threats nor will we yield to pressure.”

At the centre of the fight is the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial passage for world energy supplies that has been effectively shut down by Iranian attacks, sending fuel prices soaring and causing widespread economic turmoil. - Nine.com