According to US media reports, Iran has attacked a military base shared by Britain and the US in the Chagos Islands in the Indian Ocean.
The Islamic Republic attacked the base on the island of Diego Garcia with ballistic missiles on Friday morning (local time), as reported by the Wall Street Journal and the broadcaster CNN, citing senior US officials. Iran fired two medium-range missiles at the base, but neither hit the facility. There was initially no official confirmation from the British or US governments.
In view of the tensions between the United States and Iran, US President Donald Trump had already insisted before the war began that Great Britain would not return the Chagos Islands to Mauritius as planned. The US could rely on the island of Diego Garcia to fend off a possible attack by the Iranian military, Trump said on his Truth Social platform in mid-February. According to British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, the base is one of the UK’s most important contributions to the security partnership with the US.
US eases sanctions on Iranian oil on ships
The US has temporarily eased sanctions on Iranian oil currently on ships in the Iran war. The US Treasury Department said sales and delivery would be allowed until April 19. By lifting sanctions on oil, the USA is trying to get the rising prices for the raw material under control.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent had already announced the easing on Thursday. According to previous information, he assumes around 140 million barrels (1 barrel 159 liters). He emphasized that Iranian oil continues to be exported from the Persian Gulf to India and China. China and India are the main buyers of raw materials from Iran.
The USA recently announced that Russian oil that was already on ships could initially be sold again without penalty. The temporary exemption from US sanctions should apply until April 11th.
The war in Iran has brought shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz to a virtual standstill. The strait between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman is one of the most important routes for international oil and gas trade. As a result, oil and gas prices rose dramatically.
US President Donald Trump had previously called on countries that rely on oil transport across the Strait of Hormuz to help secure shipping.
WASHINGTON/LONDON (dpa-AFX)
