Trump’s blockade of Strait of Hormuz takes effect; Trump deletes image of himself as Jesus Christ; Tehran wants a deal ‘very badly’, says US president

Two tankers have been turned back in the Strait of Hormuz, according to ship-tracking data.

It came as Washington set out the boundaries of its new maritime restrictions.

The US Central Command said the blockade would extend east into the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea, warning that any vessel entering or leaving the designated area without authorisation could be “intercepted, diverted and captured.”

It said the measure would not restrict “neutral transit passage” through the strait to or from non-Iranian destinations.

Tracking data from MarineTraffic showed the tanker Rich Starry, en route from waters off Sharjah to China, turned back shortly after approaching the strait, along with another vessel, the Ostria. Both ships are capable of carrying oil and chemicals.

At the same time, two Iran-linked oil tankers exited the Gulf ahead of the blockade taking effect, according to Kpler and LSEG data.

With AP