Omanis return home as Iran shows off its control over strait

MUSCAT: The Foreign Ministry, in light of current regional developments and in coordination with relevant authorities in the Sultanate of Oman, continues to implement necessary arrangements to facilitate the return of Omani citizens abroad.
As part of these efforts, a group of citizens arriving from the Islamic Republic of Iran has returned home via air transport arrangements coordinated with the Sultanate of Oman’s embassy in Tehran, under an approved plan.
The ministry reaffirms that it is monitoring the situation of citizens around the clock in coordination with its diplomatic missions abroad to ensure their safety and security.
Meanwhile, Iran flaunted its tightened ​grip over the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday with video of ​its commandos storming a huge cargo ship, after the collapse of peace talks that Washington had hoped would open the world's most important shipping corridor.
Iranian state television broadcast footage overnight of masked troops pulling up in a grey speedboat alongside the MSC Francesca, climbing a rope ladder to a shell door in the hull and jumping through brandishing rifles.
The footage, presented with an action-movie-style soundtrack and no commentary, also included views of another ship, the Epaminondas. Iran said it had captured both on Wednesday, accusing them of trying to cross the strait without permits.
The war, launched by the US and Israel on February 28, has been paused since a ceasefire on April 8 but Israel warned on Thursday that it was ⁠ready to restart attacks.
With the attacks on hold, attention has shifted to the shipping lanes off the coast of Iran.
Tehran says it will not consider opening the Strait of Hormuz, normally the route for a fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas, until the US lifts its blockade of Iran's shipping, which Washington imposed during the ceasefire and ​Tehran calls a violation of that truce.
In a ⁠social media post, US President Donald Trump said it was Washington that was in 'total control' of the strait, which he described as 'Sealed up Tight,' until ​such time as Iran is able to make a DEAL!!!'.
Trump and his military officials have said Iran's navy is 'at the bottom of the sea,' but Tehran's speedboats show that it can still wreak havoc on shipping.
Washington, which has been confronting Iranian ships in international waters to enforce its blockade, said it had boarded another tanker, the Majestic, in the Indian ​Ocean on Thursday, an apparent reference to a supertanker last reported off the coast of Sri Lanka carrying 2 million barrels of crude. SEE ALSO P4 & 5