00:00U.S. Central Command has given more details of a U.S. strike first announced on Tuesday,
00:05which it says took out a base in Iran threatening the critical oil route, the Strait of Hormuz.
00:10It says its warplanes dropped 5,000-pound bombs on the underground facility on Iran's coast.
00:17We not only took out the facility, but also destroyed intelligence support sites
00:21and missile radar relays that were used to monitor ship movements.
00:25Iran's ability to threaten freedom of navigation in and around the Strait of Hormuz is degraded as a result,
00:32and we will not stop pursuing these targets.
00:35The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world's main choke points.
00:38Around 20% of the world's liquefied natural gas and oil passes through it each year.
00:44The announcement now appears designed to calm the concerns of energy markets and allies.
00:49More of those added their signatures on Saturday to a statement on Thursday,
00:53condemning the de facto closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
00:5722 countries, including the U.K., France, Germany, Japan and South Korea are saying,
01:02We express our readiness to contribute to appropriate efforts to ensure safe passage through the Strait.
01:09We welcome the commitment of nations who are engaging in preparatory planning.
01:14NATO could help us, but they so far haven't had the courage to do so.
01:17The U.S. President Donald Trump has called NATO allies cowards and urged them to secure the Strait.
01:24Tehran is currently saying it's imposing restrictions on vessels from countries involved in attacks on Iran
01:30and would offer assistance to others that stayed out of the conflict.
01:34Iran's foreign minister has said that Tehran was prepared to ensure safe passage for Japan.
01:40The blockade of the Strait has sent crude oil prices soaring,
01:43with the barrel of North Sea Brent crude up more than 50% over the last month.
01:48The blockade of the Strait has sent crude oil prices soaring,
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