Iran War Live Updates: Trump Orders U.S. Navy to 'Shoot and Kill' Iranian Boats He Says Are Mining the Strait of Hormuz

Key Points:

• The closure of the Strait of Hormuz has caused a spike in oil and gas prices, disrupting supply chains and increasing costs for companies like Karex, a major condom manufacturer reliant on diverse raw materials; prolonged conflict risks halting production and affecting thousands of jobs.
• The U.S. military has intensified efforts to enforce a blockade on Iranian vessels, boarding and seizing ships suspected of carrying illicit oil, while Iranian-linked ships continue to challenge the blockade and maintain some passage through the strait, sustaining Iran’s strategic leverage.
• Lebanon and Israel have initiated direct talks for the first time in decades amid ongoing conflict involving Hezbollah, with internal Lebanese divisions and concerns about the legitimacy and potential outcomes of the negotiations complicating prospects for peace.
• A recent Israeli airstrike killed Lebanese journalist Amal Khalil and wounded another, drawing condemnation from Lebanese officials and international press organizations accusing Israel of violating international humanitarian law and targeting journalists.
• U.S. Navy Secretary John Phelan was abruptly fired amid internal Pentagon conflicts over naval strategy and leadership style, a move that has raised concerns about potential impacts on naval operations and military procurement during the ongoing Iran conflict.