Middle East crisis live: US and Iran in blockade stalemate as Washington says clearing strait of Hormuz could take six months

Leaked Pentagon assessment says clearing mines could take half a year; US navy secretary leaves office ‘immediately’‘Impossible’ to reopen strait of Hormuz amid ‘flagrant’ ceasefire breaches, Iran saysThe Pentagon abruptly announced that the secretary of the US navy, John Phelan, would be leaving his job yesterday. No reason was given for the unexpected departure of the navy’s top civilian official, who had addressed a large crowd of sailors and industry professionals at the navy’s annual confer...