International
US Blockade Tightens As CENTCOM Redirects 100 Commercial Ships From Iranian Ports
US Blockade Tightens As CENTCOM Redirects 100 Commercial Ships From Iranian Ports
American forces say no vessel has crossed blockade without permission as tensions mount around Strait of Hormuz
The United States has stepped up its maritime pressure on Iran, with the US Central Command (CENTCOM) announcing that American forces have redirected 100 commercial vessels in the past 60 days as part of a blockade targeting Iranian ports.
CENTCOM disclosed the figure on Saturday, September 12, amid escalating tensions between Washington and Tehran and growing disruption to commercial shipping in the Gulf region.
The development represents a significant escalation in the enforcement of the US maritime blockade, which has increasingly affected commercial vessels operating around Iran and the strategic Strait of Hormuz.
CENTCOM said its forces were enforcing the blockade and preventing vessels from entering or leaving Iranian ports without American authorisation.
According to the command, no ship had passed through the blockade without US forces allowing it, underscoring the extent to which Washington says it has tightened control over maritime traffic linked to Iran.
The latest announcement means that the number of commercial vessels redirected by US forces has continued to climb rapidly. Earlier in September, CENTCOM said it had redirected 94 commercial vessels. By September 11, the figure had risen to 99 before reaching 100 the following day.
The vessels are understood to have been ordered to alter course rather than proceed towards Iranian ports. US authorities have previously said the blockade is aimed at restricting maritime trade with Iran and cutting off revenue to Tehran.
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The US Central Command has also documented cases in which American forces boarded or otherwise intercepted vessels suspected of attempting to violate the blockade.
The blockade has been backed by American naval and military assets operating in the region. US forces have reportedly boarded commercial vessels suspected of attempting to reach Iranian ports in violation of the restrictions.
In one reported case, an Iranian-flagged tanker was boarded after failing to comply with repeated warnings and was subsequently released after being searched and directed to change course.
Another commercial vessel was reportedly boarded in the Arabian Sea after American forces suspected it was attempting to transit to Iran. The vessel was later released after US authorities determined that its voyage would not include an Iranian port call.
The incidents demonstrate that Washington’s strategy goes beyond issuing warnings, with American forces prepared to intercept vessels suspected of breaching the restrictions.
The latest development has heightened concerns over the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most strategically important maritime routes.
The waterway connects the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and serves as a major corridor for international energy shipments.
Shipping traffic through the strait has already fallen sharply amid the conflict. Reports indicate that only a small number of commodity vessels have been passing through the waterway compared with normal traffic levels.
The disruption has triggered concerns about the global supply of crude oil and liquefied natural gas, with the Strait of Hormuz normally carrying a substantial portion of global energy supplies.
The intensifying confrontation has also sent shockwaves through international energy markets. Oil prices have moved sharply higher as traders assess the possibility of prolonged disruption to tanker traffic around the Gulf.
The situation has raised fears that a wider confrontation involving Iran, the United States and other regional actors could further restrict energy supplies and push fuel prices higher globally.
For oil-dependent economies, including Nigeria, sustained disruption in the Gulf could have significant consequences through changes in crude prices, freight costs, inflation and domestic fuel prices.
The blockade is also placing additional pressure on Iran’s already strained economy. Reports from the Iranian port city of Bandar Abbas indicate that the maritime restrictions have affected commercial activity, with businesses, dock workers and other residents reportedly experiencing declining trade and worsening economic conditions.
The restrictions have reportedly affected imports, port operations and businesses dependent on maritime commerce. Washington’s broader strategy appears designed to increase the economic cost of Iran’s continued confrontation with the United States.
The latest US announcement comes against the backdrop of a much wider military confrontation involving Iran and the United States.
American forces have carried out attacks against Iranian military and oil-related targets, while Iran has retaliated against US interests in the region. The maritime dimension of the confrontation has further complicated the movement of commercial vessels through the Gulf.
With commercial vessels caught in the middle, shipping companies face increasing risks, while insurers and energy traders continue to closely monitor developments around the region.
The possibility of further restrictions around the Strait of Hormuz has become one of the biggest concerns for international shipping and energy markets.
For now, Washington says its forces will continue enforcing the blockade, while the latest figure from CENTCOM — 100 commercial vessels redirected in 60 days — signals that the maritime confrontation is showing no immediate sign of easing.
US Blockade Tightens As CENTCOM Redirects 100 Commercial Ships From Iranian Ports
International
Trump Tells Supporters to ‘Cheat Like Hell’ Ahead of US Election
Trump Tells Supporters to ‘Cheat Like Hell’ Ahead of US Election
US President Donald Trump has made an unusual appeal to his supporters ahead of the November 3 election, telling them to turn out with their families and friends while declaring that he would “cheat like hell.”
Trump made the comments during a Republican gathering in Dallas, Texas, where he led attendees through a mock pledge intended to encourage them to support him and participate in the election.
After asking the crowd to raise their right hands and repeat after him, Trump urged his supporters to help bring their relatives and friends to the polls.
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He then made the controversial remark while discussing voter registration, saying he was unconcerned about whether he was registered and accusing his political opponents of being bigger “cheaters.”
Trump went on to encourage supporters to vote either on November 3 or before election day, ending the pledge with an appeal to God.
The president also joked that supporters who failed to vote could face divine punishment, telling the crowd they would “go to hell” if they did not turn out.
The remarks came as Trump sought to energise Republican voters ahead of the election, in which control of Congress is also at stake.
His comments are likely to attract attention because of the language he used during an event aimed at mobilising voters, particularly his reference to cheating and his claims about the conduct of his opponents.
Trump Tells Supporters to ‘Cheat Like Hell’ Ahead of US Election
International
France Train Derailment Injures 44, 18-Year-Old Woman in Critical Condition
France Train Derailment Injures 44, 18-Year-Old Woman in Critical Condition
At least 44 people were injured after a passenger train carrying 186 people derailed in northwestern France on Friday evening, with an 18-year-old woman among those injured and reported to be in critical condition.
The Rouen-Caen regional train derailed at about 7:45 p.m. local time near Cléon, in the Seine-Maritime department of Normandy, while travelling between the cities of Rouen and Caen.
The incident triggered a major emergency response, with authorities deploying about 130 firefighters, five medical teams and 80 emergency vehicles to the scene.
A mass-casualty emergency plan was activated to coordinate the rescue operation and treatment of those injured.
According to Rouen prosecutor Sébastien Gallois, 44 passengers were injured in the France train derailment, including the 18-year-old woman who was airlifted to Rouen University Hospital in critical condition.
The other 43 injured passengers were treated for less serious injuries.
The initial estimate of the number of injured passengers was lower, but the figure was revised to 44 after emergency teams completed their assessment of passengers at the scene.
Transport Minister Philippe Tabarot said the train was travelling between Rouen and Caen when the accident occurred.
A passenger identified as 24-year-old Louis described the moments before the train accident in France as frightening.
He said the train first experienced several jolts before the movement became increasingly violent.
“Suddenly there were a few jolts, and then after about three seconds it got stronger and stronger,” he told ICI Normandie radio.
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“I couldn’t stay in my seat any more. The windows partially shattered; the stones from the track came into the carriage. It was really shocking. I’m still shaking,” he said.
A police source said the train may have struck an unidentified object shortly before it derailed. However, authorities have not established whether the object was responsible for the accident.
The cause of the Cléon train derailment therefore remains under investigation.
The Rouen prosecutor said drug and alcohol tests conducted on the train driver were negative.
Police and railway investigators have begun examining the train, the railway infrastructure and the circumstances surrounding the derailment to determine what caused the accident.
The railway operator, SNCF Réseau, suspended traffic on the affected line and switched off electricity to the tracks to allow emergency workers to operate safely.
“The priority is to care for the passengers and then to restore safe operating conditions,” SNCF Réseau said.
The disruption affected rail services along the Rouen-Caen route, while other services connecting Caen with Le Havre were also affected.
Rail authorities worked to arrange alternative transport for passengers whose journeys were disrupted while emergency and investigative operations continued at the accident scene.
Passengers who were not seriously injured were moved away from the crash site as emergency teams attended to those requiring medical attention.
The prefecture urged members of the public to stay away from the affected area to allow rescue workers and investigators to carry out their duties.
The accident caused significant disruption to rail services across the region, with authorities prioritising the safety of passengers and the restoration of the affected railway line.
The investigation is expected to establish whether the train’s contact with the unidentified object, a problem with the railway infrastructure or another factor contributed to the derailment.
As of the latest reports, there were no fatalities recorded in the accident, while the 18-year-old woman remained in critical condition and the other injured passengers were receiving medical attention.
Authorities said investigations into the France train accident were continuing.
France Train Derailment Injures 44, 18-Year-Old Woman in Critical Condition
International
Five Dead After Coach Carrying Dutch Tourists Overturns in Switzerland
Five Dead After Coach Carrying Dutch Tourists Overturns in Switzerland
A holiday trip in Switzerland has ended in tragedy after a coach carrying 45 Dutch adults overturned in the eastern part of the country, killing five people and injuring the remaining passengers.
The crash occurred on Thursday afternoon on the road linking Susch and Zernez in the Graubünden region. Police said the vehicle went off the roadway while passing through an area where construction work was taking place before overturning.
Three of those injured are in serious condition, while another 37 people sustained less severe injuries. The driver, who is also Dutch, survived the crash but was among those taken for medical treatment.
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Authorities have begun investigating the incident and are working to establish what caused the coach to leave the road.
Tour operator Oad said the company was devastated by the deaths and described the incident as a deeply shocking tragedy.
The crash took place close to Zernez, a popular gateway to Switzerland’s National Park, a large Alpine nature reserve in the Engadine valley.
Five Dead After Coach Carrying Dutch Tourists Overturns in Switzerland
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