President Trump says the US will "obliterate" Iran’s power plants if the key shipping channel does not open before his 48-hour deadline.

Iran responds to Trump’s threat by saying all US energy infrastructure in the region will be targeted if it is attacked.

As President Donald Trump looks at ordering US Navy ships to escort oil tankers through the Strait of Hormuz, for naval analysts and historians, there’s a distinct feeling of “been there, done that.”

Just under 100 ships have passed thorough the Strait of Hormuz since the start of March, according to data analysed by BBC Verify.

Slipping through sonar blind spots, the Ghadir-class mini subs silently shadow their prey, despatch their underwater anti-ship cruise missiles or homing torpedoes, then simply vanish.

US officials are furiously trying to avert a potential monthslong closure of the Strait of Hormuz, privately acknowledging that reopening the key waterway is a problem without a clear solution and dependent at least in part on what lengths President Donald Trump is willing to go to force the Iranian regime’s hand,

PARIS, March 21 (Reuters) - The foreign ministers of the Group of Seven countries said on Saturday they stood ready to take necessary measures to support global energy supplies and reaffirmed the importance of safeguarding maritime routes,

Israelis said securing the strait for energy shipments could become the war’s main goal now that regime change and ending Iran’s ability to obtain a nuclear weapon seem out of reach.