The U.S. military has redirected 24 commercial vessels as part of its maritime blockade against Iran, the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said on Thursday.
CENTCOM said U.S. forces continued to enforce the blockade on Thursday.
In a post on social media platform X, the command said that, as of Thursday, U.S. forces had compelled 24 commercial vessels to alter their routes, disabled two ships and boarded two others to verify compliance with the blockade.
The command also said a U.S. Navy P-8 Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft, refueled by a U.S. Air Force KC-135 Stratotanker during flight, was conducting surveillance over regional waters in support of the operation.
US says 24 commercial ships redirected under Iran blockad
Annual inflation in the eurozone is expected to edge up to 2.9 percent in July from 2.8 percent in June, according to a flash estimate released by Eurostat on Friday.
The increase was mainly driven by renewed energy price pressure. Energy prices are expected to rise 10.0 percent year-on-year in July, up from 8.5 percent in June, according to Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union (EU). Services inflation is also expected to rise to 3.3 percent from 3.2 percent a month earlier.
Food, alcohol and tobacco prices are estimated to rise 1.2 percent year-on-year, down from 1.5 percent in June, while non-energy industrial goods are expected to post an annual inflation rate of 0.9 percent, up from 0.7 percent. Core inflation, which excludes energy, food, alcohol and tobacco, is estimated at 2.5 percent in July, up from 2.4 percent in June.
According to Eurostat data, inflation rose in three of the eurozone's largest economies in July. Germany's rate increased to 2.8 percent from 2.4 percent in June, France's to 2.4 percent from 2.0 percent, and Spain's to 3.8 percent from 3.6 percent. Italy's rate, meanwhile, edged down to 2.9 percent from 3.0 percent.
Among eurozone members with available data, Lithuania is estimated to have posted the highest annual inflation rate in July at 5.6 percent, while Estonia is estimated to have posted the lowest at 2.0 percent.
The data came after the European Central Bank (ECB) decided last week to keep its three key interest rates unchanged. The ECB said that the outlook for energy prices remained highly volatile and the full inflationary impact of the energy shock had yet to play out.
Eurozone inflation edges up to 2.9 pct in July as energy prices rise
