Iran-US war latest: Hegseth says ‘no need to worry’ about attacks in Strait of Hormuz

The US’s highest-ranking officer said on Friday that two crew members were injured in the fire on the aircraft carrier operating in the Middle East.

Addressing the fire on the USS Gerald R. Ford, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Gen. Dan Caine told reporters: “We’re thinking about the crew there who were injured in the fire.”

The US navy has said the carrier remains fully operational after the fire, which US Centcom said started in the ship’s main laundry spaces and was not combat-related.

NATO on Friday confirmed ⁠its air defences had ⁠shot ​down ⁠a third ⁠ballistic ​missile that ⁠was ‌fired from Iran towards ‌Turkey.

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

Foreign secretary Yvette Cooper has accused Russia and Iran of trying to “hijack the global economy” as oil prices soar amid continued conflict in the Middle East.

Iran’s new supreme leader has vowed to continue attacking shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, as oil prices jump to around 100 dollars per barrel as a result of the blockade of the key shipping route.

Politics reporter Athena Stavrou reports:

Millie Cooke, political correspondent, reports:

Downing Street has hit back at Donald Trump’s decision to ease sanctions on some Russian oil amid Iran’s blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, saying that all partners should maintain pressure on Moscow and its war chest.

Asked whether Sir Keir Starmer was disappointed by the move, his official spokesperson told 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 also ruled out the UK following suit, 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 war in the region unleashed ​by US and Israeli strikes on Tehran.

But Yemen’s Houthi rebels, heavily armed and capable of striking Gulf neighbours and causing major disruption to maritime navigation around the Arabian Peninsula, have not yet entered the fray.

Here is a look at why that might be:

On March 5, Houthi leader Abdul Malik Al-Houthi said his group was ready to strike at any moment.

Regarding military escalation and action, our fingers are on the trigger at any moment should 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 talk about it just like you’ve reported recklessly and wildly about it. But … we have no clear evidence 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.