Nine US military ships enter Persian Gulf , assembling off Iran’s coast in largest American naval move since 2003
'They sailed through the Strait of Hormuz by day - according to US Navy officials for training exercises. The vessels carry around 17,000 combat and marine personnel. They include the two aircraft carriers, USS Nimitz and USS Stennis, as well as the USS Bonhomme Richard LHD 6 Group, the world’s biggest amphibious strike force. Iran was not notified of the planned arrival.'
'The
US has said it will press for a new set of sanctions to be imposed on
Iran over its continued failure to suspend its uranium enrichment
programme.
It followed a UN nuclear watchdog warning that Tehran was stepping up
enrichment and obstructing inspections.
Mohamed ElBaradei is due to address a joint US-Russian conference on nuclear proliferation later on Thursday.'
