Welcome to The Times of Israel’s Daily Briefing, your 20-minute audio update on what’s happening in Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish world.

Diplomatic correspondent Lazar Berman joins host Amanda Borschel-Dan for today’s episode.

WATCH the full episode here:

There are at least 19 US warships in the Arabian Sea, including two aircraft carriers and an amphibious assault ship with more than 1,000 Marines aboard. This threat — and US President Donald Trump’s renewed blockade on Iranian ports — is not deterring Tehran’s determined chokehold on the Strait of Hormuz. Berman delves into the logic behind Iran’s moves.

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