live Iran closes Strait of Hormuz again over U.S. blockade, state media says- Saturday 18 April
Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) said in a Saturday statement that the Strait of Hormuz has...
Chinese and Russian warships have entered Iranian territorial waters to participate in the "Security Belt 2025" naval drills in the northern Indian Ocean which is set to begin today.
Vessels from the Iranian Navy and the Naval Force of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) will also participate in the drills, marking the seventh edition of the "Security Belt" joint exercises conducted by Iran, Russia, and China, according to Iranian media report.
Delegations from Azerbaijan Republic, South Africa, Oman, Kazakhstan, Pakistan, Qatar, Iraq, the UAE, and Sri Lanka will attend the exercise as observers.
The Chinese defense ministry said that the "Security Belt-2025" joint exercise will be held near the Iranian port of Chabahar on the Gulf of Oman coast. The exercise aims to deepen "military trust and pragmatic cooperation."
The drills will include simulated attacks on maritime targets, joint search and rescue operations, and spot checks and arrests.
China has sent the Type 052D guided-missile destroyer Baotou and supply ship Gaoyouhu from the 47th naval escort task force to participate in the exercise. The full task force, which also includes the guided-missile frigate Honghe and two shipborne helicopters, has been patrolling the nearby Gulf of Aden since December.
Last year’s exercise, held from March 11 to 15, focused on anti-piracy and search-and-rescue drills. These included armed rescues of hijacked merchant vessels and targeting practice at sea, according to the defense ministry. China’s 45th naval escort task force took part in the drills, alongside Russia’s Pacific fleet and more than 10 Iranian vessels.
The past 24 hours of the Russia-Ukraine war have seen a drastic escalation in both aerial bombardment and frontline losses.
Iran reopened the Strait of Hormuz to commercial shipping on Friday (17 April) for the first time since the U.S. and Israel killed Iran's ex-Supreme Leader in air strikes, triggering the Middle East conflict, at the end of February. A U.S. blockade on Iranian ports, however, remains in force.
Russia published addresses of manufacturers allegedly producing drones or components for Ukraine on Wednesday (15 April), warning European countries against plans to step up UAV supplies to Kyiv.
Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) said in a Saturday statement that the Strait of Hormuz has returned to its "previous state" under the control of its "armed forces," citing the ongoing U.S. blockade on Iranian ports.
Netflix shares fell sharply on Friday after the streaming group issued a weaker-than-expected outlook and said chairman and co-founder Reed Hastings will step down from the board.
The Trump administration extended a sanctions exemption on some Russian oil as prices continue to skyrocket in the wake of the U.S.- Israeli war against Iran on Friday (17 April).
Australia and Japan signed contracts on Saturday (18 April) launching their landmark A$10 billion ($7 billion) deal to supply Australia with warships, Tokyo's most consequential military sale since ending a military export ban in 2014.
Leaders from across Europe and beyond gathered in Paris on Friday for a summit aimed at managing the global impact of the Middle East conflict.
European leaders have set out plans for a coordinated defensive mission to restore freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, once security conditions allow, following talks involving more than 40 countries.
NeaNearly 900 Rohingya refugees were reported missing or dead in the Andaman Sea off Myanmar in 2025, making it the deadliest year on record, the United Nations Refugee Agency said on Friday.
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