US warns Iran it will step up economic pressure; two more ships attacked in Hormuz

LONDON: Transit through the Strait of Hormuz appeared to grind to a near standstill on Friday (Aug 14) after two more ships were attacked there and the United States said it could maintain a naval blockade of Iran indefinitely.A senior Iranian source said on Wednesday that there had been no progress in talks to build on a June agreement to end the war. As a ceasefire renewed then broke down, Iran has resumed attacks on ships it accuses of trying to transit the strait without its permission.Two vessels from the state-owned Abu Dhabi National Oil Company were attacked transiting the strait on Thursday evening, United Arab Emirates state news agency WAM reported. The UAE government blamed Iran, which made no immediate comment.Nine vessels passed through the narrow waterway at the entrance to