Iran-US war latest: Trump says Iran will be ‘blown off the face of the Earth’ if US ships are targeted in Strait of Hormuz – UK Times

Canada has strongly condemned the reported Iranian missile attack on a UAE oil facility and several vessels.

In a statement, Carney said: “We stand in solidarity with Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed and the people of the United Arab Emirates and commend defensive efforts to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure.

“Canada reiterates its call for de-escalation and diplomacy in the region.”

Earlier, the UAE reported multiple attacks from Iran, with its defence ministry saying it intercepted several missiles and drones.

The attack has drawn wider international concern.

Japan has received its first shipment of Russian oil since the Iran war disrupted global supply by effectively closing the Strait of Hormuz, according to The Asahi Shimbun.

The crude was sourced from the Sakhalin-2 project in Russia and delivered to western Japan. This was supposed to help Tokyo’s effort to diversify supplies as it relies on the Middle East for about 95 per cent of its oil imports.

According to AFP, the Sakhalin-2 project is not covered by current sanctions on Moscow, enabling the shipment, which was reportedly encouraged by Japan’s economy ministry.

On Monday, Japanese prime minister Sanae Takaichi said the supply squeeze was having an “enormous impact” on the Asia-Pacific region.

Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araqchi has said that events in the Strait of Hormuz show that there is “no military solution” to the crisis, while warning the US and UAE against being drawn into a “quagmire”.

Araghchi added: “As talks are making progress with Pakistan’s gracious effort, the US should be wary of being dragged back into quagmire by ill-wishers. So should the UAE.

“Project Freedom is Project Deadlock.”

The US launched “Project Freedom” – to help hundreds of ships stranded in the Gulf “safely” out of harm’s way.

Trump wrote on Truth Social on Sunday: “These are Ships from areas of the World that are not in any way involved with that which is currently taking place in the Middle East.

“I have told my Representatives to inform them that we will use best efforts to get their Ships and Crews safely out of the Strait.

“In all cases, they said they will not be returning until the area becomes safe for navigation and everything else.”

Donald Trump has warned that Iran could be “blown off the face of the earth” if US vessels are attacked in the Strait of Hormuz.

His comments came after the US launched “Project Freedom” – to help hundreds of ships stranded in the Gulf.

The US military also claimed to have sunk six small Iranian boats. But Iran denied this.

Trump described the ongoing US naval effort as “one of the greatest military manoeuvres ever done”.

“We have more weapons and ammunition at a much higher grade than we had before.

“We have the best equipment. We have stuff all over the world. We have these bases all over the world. They’re all stocked up with equipment. We can use all of that stuff, and we will, if we need it,” Trump said in an interview with Fox News.

• The US military claims to have sunk six small Iranian boats as tensions rise in the Strait of Hormuz
• Abbas Araqchi says events in the Strait of Hormuz show no military solution to the crisis, while warning the US and UAE against being drawn into a “quagmire”
• Fire on a South Korean HMM vessel in the Strait of Hormuz has been extinguished, with no casualties reported
• The UAE says it intercepted 12 ballistic missiles, 3 cruise missiles and 4 drones fired by Iran
• Donald Trump warns Iran could be “blown off the face of the earth” if US vessels are attacked