American intelligence agencies believe the Strait of Hormuz will not reopen in the short term
¬ Before Easter: The U.S. urgently searches for a lost pilot
¬ A Japanese liquefied natural gas (LNG) carrier crosses the Strait of Hormuz along Oman's coast
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American intelligence agencies believe it is unlikely that the Strait of Hormuz will reopen in the near term, as blocking the strait allows Iran to exert pressure on the United States.
According to sources cited by Reuters: "These data indicate that Tehran may continue to block the strait to maintain high energy prices and pressure U.S. President Donald Trump into finding a way to end the war quickly."
The report also notes that ongoing aggression by the U.S. and Israel only serves to push Iran toward dominance in the region.
Source: sputniknews
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On Friday, April 3, President Trump unveiled the fiscal year 2027 budget request, calling for a dramatic increase in total spending to $1.5 trillion—up from the record $1 trillion defense budget for fiscal year 2026—while cutting non-defense spending, underscoring Trump’s emphasis on increasing military investment.
On Thursday, U.S. forces bombed Iran’s highest bridge, reportedly the first time Iranian infrastructure has been destroyed. The following day, President Trump continued pressuring Iran. On the social media platform Truth Social, he posted: "A little more time, and we could easily open the Strait of Hormuz, access oil, and make a fortune…"
On the same day, an American F-15E fighter jet was shot down over Iran, prompting a U.S. rescue operation. The aircraft had two crew members; the latest update indicates one has been rescued. This marks the first time Iran has shot down a U.S. manned aircraft during this conflict.
Subsequent reports revealed that both U.S. military crew members safely ejected after their aircraft was hit. The pilot was located after making initial contact with the U.S. Army, while the rear crew member (weapons system operator) was contacted later and remains under search.
It was reported that a U.S. Black Hawk helicopter conducting a rescue mission for the second F-15 crew member was attacked while operating over Iran but successfully exited Iranian airspace and landed safely without further incidents. Israel canceled its previously planned air strike on Iran to avoid interfering with the search and rescue efforts.
Irani television announced a reward of 1 billion tomans (approximately $64,102) for information leading to the location of the missing U.S. pilot.
The war between the U.S., Israel, and Iran has now lasted over a month. Some U.S. special forces have already been deployed to the Middle East, and thousands of Marines and sailors are en route. Previously, Trump hinted at at least two to three more weeks of large-scale strikes against Iran, suggesting some form of direct ground intervention may be imminent, likely beginning with strategic islands near the Strait of Hormuz.
Source: rfi
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Iran – According to maritime traffic data released on Friday, three vessels, including an LNG carrier jointly owned by a Japanese company, crossed the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday, sailing south along Oman’s coast—an alternative route not approved by Iran.
Since the outbreak of the war, most ships traversing this strategic waterway have followed Iran-approved routes through Iranian waters near the island of Larak. Maritime data firm Lloyd's List Intelligence refers to this island as “Tehran’s tollgate.” (Larak Island is part of Gesham County in Hormozgan Province, Iran.)
However, according to maritime data provider Kpler, on Thursday morning, two fully loaded ultra-large crude carriers—Habrut and Dhalkut—and one empty LNG carrier, Sohar LNG, crossed the strait from the southern side. As reported by Lloyd’s List, these vessels were the first in nearly three weeks to navigate the strait without using Iran’s designated passage. To date, Sohar LNG is the only LNG carrier to have passed through the strait since March 1.
During their transit, the vessels’ transponders broadcasted signals indicating they were registered as Omani ships. According to a statement released by Mitsui OSK Lines on Friday, cited by Japanese media, Sohar LNG is co-owned by the company and Japanese shipping firm Mitsui OSK Lines. The report noted that this makes Sohar LNG the first Japanese vessel to leave the Gulf region since the war began. The LNG carrier had been sailing in the Gulf region since February 25 and was empty when passing through the strait.
Based on signal data, the three vessels appeared to be sailing along Oman’s coastline and are now moored near Muscat.
According to Kpler’s data from Friday morning, cargo ships have passed through the Strait of Hormuz 240 times since March 1—a 94% decrease compared to pre-war levels. Of these, 151 involved oil tankers and liquefied gas carriers, mostly heading eastward out of the strait.
On Thursday, Iran announced it was negotiating a "protocol" with Oman to ensure safe navigation through the Strait of Hormuz during peacetime.
Source: rfi
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1861497175028743/
Disclaimer: This article represents the personal views of the author