The United States Central Command (CENTCOM) said Thursday that its forces in the Middle East had "redirected 104 commercial vessels to ensure strict compliance" with the U.S. naval blockade against Iran.
In a post on X, CENTCOM also released an image showing an F/A-18F Super Hornet fighter jet launching from the flight deck of the USS George H.W. Bush aircraft carrier, which is in the region "to support enforcement of the U.S. blockade against Iran."
Following the U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran on Feb 28, Tehran restricted passage through the Strait of Hormuz, while the U.S. imposed a naval blockade targeting vessels traveling to or from Iranian ports and coastal areas.
CENTCOM says 104 commercial vessels redirected to comply with Iran blockade
Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson announced his resignation on Thursday after preliminary results showed his right-wing bloc lost its parliamentary majority in the general election.
"The Speaker will now lead the next steps toward forming a new government. To allow that process to begin immediately, I hereby request to be relieved of my duties as prime minister," Kristersson said in a letter to the speaker of of parliament which he posted to X .
Preliminary results released earlier Thursday by the Swedish Election Authority showed that the center-left opposition bloc had secured a parliamentary majority, with all 6,626 electoral districts counted.
Together, the four opposition parties received 49.6 percent of the vote and secured 176 seats in the 349-seat parliament. Kristersson's right-wing bloc received 48.8 percent of the vote and won 173 seats.
The focus now shifts to whether the four opposition parties can agree on a governing arrangement. The grouping brings together the Social Democrats, the Left Party, the Green Party and the Centre Party. The Social Democrats remained the largest party, receiving 28 percent of the vote and securing 99 seats.
Reaching such an arrangement could prove difficult given the parties' significant policy differences. Swedish Television domestic political commentator Mats Knutson cited taxation, sick-pay deductions and nuclear power as key areas of disagreement, while noting that compromises could be reached on other issues.
Swedish PM resigns after parliamentary elections defeat
