What happened
Five suspects arrested near a British air base used by American bombers have been released on bail. The base, RAF Fairford, has been used by American bombers during conflicts in the Middle East. Detectives are investigating a possible link to Iran, among other leads.
President Trump has denied reports that he offered to ease sanctions on Iran in exchange for the country ending its nuclear program, calling the reports a 'hoax'. Trump also commented on the release of the suspects, stating that he would not have released them and that the UK government had worked closely with the US.
Meanwhile, Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei has claimed that Iranian forces have driven enemy forces back from the Strait of Hormuz, a claim that has been disputed by US CENTCOM. The Strait of Hormuz is a vital shipping route, with thousands of ships and over a billion barrels of oil passing through in recent months.
In related news, Saudi Arabia has resumed oil exports through its east-west pipeline after repairs to damage from drone strikes. The pipeline carries oil to the Red Sea, bypassing the Strait of Hormuz. Middle East crude exports are at their highest since the war began and are nearly 80% of prewar levels.
