LIVE: Trump says Iran Navy ‘obliterated’, then warns ‘fast attack ships’ not to approach blockade

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has ruled out British support for US President Donald Trump’s planned blockade of Iranian ports and coastal areas, including the crucial shipping route of the Strait of Hormuz.

During a weekend phone call with French President Emmanuel Macron, Starmer reiterated the UK stance of the need to “work with a wide coalition of partners to protect freedom of navigation,” given the strategic importance of the Strait for global trade and energy supplies.

He confirmed the presence of mine-sweepers and anti-drone defensive presence in the region as he stressed that British military capability will continue to focus on getting the Strait “fully open”.

“What we’ve been doing over the last few weeks – and this was part of what I was discussing with the Gulf states last week – is bringing countries together to keep the Strait open, not shut,” Starmer told BBC Radio.

“We’re not supporting the blockade and all of the marshalling diplomatically, politically and capability – we do have mine-sweeping capability, I won’t go into operational matters, but we do have that capability – that’s all focused, from our point of view, on getting the Strait fully open,” he said.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Monday (April 13) that Israel backs US President Donald Trump’s decision to impose a naval blockade on Iran. He also added that Tel Aviv is closely coordinating with Washington on the situation, according to AFP.

“Iran violated the rules (of the peace talks in Pakistan), US President Trump decided to impose a naval blockade,” Netanyahu said at a cabinet meeting, according to a video statement released by his office. “We, of course, support this firm position, and we are in constant coordination with the United States.”

Eight workers were injured on Monday (April 13) in a sudden leak of hot steam at the Koradi Thermal Power Station (KTPS) in Nagpur district, Maharashtra, according to State Power Generation Company (MahaGenco).

The incident occurred at 10:20 am when maintenance work was underway at Unit No.10 of the plant. The unit was already shut down at the time of the accident. Workers were engaged in removing clinker - a hard residue formed during coal burning - from a floor located about 13 meters above ground level.

During this process, steam suddenly escaped through a small opening known as a "peephole" in the boiler. The unexpected release of hot steam hit the workers standing nearby, which caused injuries, according to a statement issued by MahaGenco

Two supertankers carrying Iranian crude have arrived at Indian ports on both the east and west coasts, marking the first such deliveries in nearly seven years, according to ship-tracking data.

Felicity, a very large crude carrier operated by the National Iranian Tanker Company, anchored off Sikka on Gujarat's coast late Sunday, carrying about 2 million barrels loaded at Kharg Island in mid-March.

A second tanker, Jaya, moored near Paradip on Odisha coast around the same time. It is transporting a similar volume of crude, lifted from Kharg Island in late February, before the US and Israel launched military strikes against Iran, followed by Tehran's retaliation.

The shipments are the first Iranian crude cargoes to reach Indian shores in nearly seven years, following a sanctions waiver issued by the United States last month.

Iran threatened ports in the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman after the US announced a blockade on Iran's ports and coastline.

“Security in the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman is either for everyone or for no one," according to the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting, IRIB.

“No port in the region will be safe,” the Iranian military said.

Security forces rushed to the Delhi Assembly on Monday (April 13) after a bomb threat was received via email, prompting a swift response from multiple agencies, police sources said.

The alert was communicated by Assembly authorities, following which teams of the Delhi Police, bomb disposal and dog squads and the fire brigade were deployed at the premises.

A thorough search of the premises was carried out, the source said.

"Nothing suspicious has been found so far. The situation is under control," a senior police officer said, adding that further investigation into the source of the email is underway.

The Congress on Monday (April 13) issued a whip to all Lok Sabha MPs to remain present in the House for the special sitting of Parliament when the government will bring up amendments to the Women's Reservation Act.

The Congress has told its Lok Sabha MPs that some very important issues will be taken up for discussion and voting in the House on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

"All members of Congress Party in the Lok Sabha are requested to kindly remain present in the House from 11 am onwards till the adjournment of the House on Thursday, Friday and Saturday i.e. 16th, 17th & 18th April, 2026, without fail and support the Party stand," the party said.

"This may be treated as most important," the three-line whip issued by the party said.

The Budget session of Parliament has been extended, and a special three-day sitting of the House has been convened from April 16 to 18, during which amendments to the 'Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam', more commonly known as the Women Reservation Act, will be brought for its implementation in 2029.