Is the Red Sea the world's next major trade chokepoint?

The Iranian military has threatened shipping in the Gulf, Red Sea, and the Gulf of Oman if the US naval blockade continues.

The threats made by general Ali Abdollahi Aliabadi were apparently aired on Iranian state television.

Meanwhile, talks could resume as early as this week with NBC news reporting Trump has said the war was "very close to over" while Tehran has said messages were still being exchanged via Pakistan.

Trump has also claimed that China is "very happy" about the situation - that was after Beijing labelled the US blockade "dangerous."

He also said that President Xi Jinping had agreed not to send weapons to Iran.

Today on The Front Page, University of Otago international relations professor Robert Patman is with us.

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You can read more about this and other stories in the New Zealand Herald, online at nzherald.co.nz, or tune in to news bulletins across the NZME network.

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