Iran-US war latest: Iran declares Strait of Hormuz closed and warns ships will face ‘harsh measures’

The US can only say with certainty that it has destroyed about a third of Iran’s vast missile arsenal, according to five people familiar with the US intelligence.

The status of around another third is less clear, but bombings likely damaged, destroyed or buried those missiles in underground tunnels and bunkers, four of the sources told Reuters.

One said the intelligence was similar for Iran’s drone capability, saying there was some degree of certainty about a third having been destroyed.

The assessment, which has not been previously reported, shows that while most of Iran’s missiles are either destroyed or inaccessible, Tehran still has a significant missile inventory and may be able to recover some buried or damaged missiles once fighting stops.

Two Chinese container ships have turned back after trying to exit the Gulf via the Strait of Hormuz, according to ship-tracking data seen by Reuters.

It added that shipping “to and from ports of allies and supporters of the Israeli-American enemies” is prohibited through any corridor or to any destination.

Some Pentagon officials are concerned about the “alarmingly low” supply of Tomahawk missiles remaining in the U.S. military’s arsenal after firing 850 of the weapons into Iran, according to a report.

U.S. officials told the newspaper that the number of Tomahawks left in the Middle East was “alarmingly low.” Another official told the outlet that the U.S. supply of Tomahawks was closing in on “Winchester,” military slang that means almost out of ammunition.

Many of the Tomahawks, which can be launched from submarines and Navy warships, were used during the first days of the war, which began on February 28, people familiar with the matter told the Post. Each missile is estimated to cost more than $2 million.

The cost of oil has surged again following Iran’s announcement that the Strait of Hormuz is “closed” and that any transit through the waterway will face “harsh measures”.

The Strait of Hormuz provides the only passage from the Persian Gulf to the open ocean, making it a crucial point for the oil industry. Around 20 per cent of the world’s gas and oil is shipped through the waterway, with continued Iranian threats proving highly damaging for global trade.

The mother of two children killed on a strike in Minab, Iran on the first day of the war has blamed the US and Israel for being “the cause of this suffering” and called on the countries to be held to account, during a UN Human Rights Council debate on Friday.

“I call upon the Human Rights Council, its members, upon the responsible institutions, and upon all those who have a duty and ability to defend the lives of children, not to let this tragedy be forgotten,” the mother said via a video message.

She added: “No mother is prepared to hear the words ‘your child isn’t coming back’.”

The UN rights chief has urged Washington to conclude its investigation into a fatal strike on a primary school in Iran.

The statements came at an emergency debate at the Geneva council at a UN Human Rights Council meeting on Friday to discuss the attack on the Shajareh Tayyebeh School, which killed more than 175 children and teachers on the first day of the war, according to authorities.

US military investigators have reportedly been looking into the attacks, but a report has not yet been released.

UN Human Rights chief Volker Turk called for Washington to conclude its probe as soon as possible and publish the results.

“There must be justice for the terrible harm done,” he said by video link after meetings with US officials in Washington this week.

Saudi Arabia’s defence ministry has said that three drones were intercepted and destroyed in its capital of Riyadh, in a statement on Friday.

Sirens were heard this morning amid reports of drone attacks. The defence ministry said that debris fell in the vicinity of the military site but no injuries were reported.

Israel Katz, Israel’s defence minister, has warned that Iran will pay “heavy and increasing prices” for reportedly targeting Israeli civilians.

He promised that strikes on Tehran would escalate and expand to additional “targets and domains” that assist Iran in building and operating weapons against Israeli civilians.