First Thing: Trump threatens to impose US tolls on Hormuz shipping as strikes on Iran continue

Donald Trump signing an executive order in the White House on Monday. Photograph: Aaron Schwartz/EPA View image in fullscreen Donald Trump signing an executive order in the White House on Monday. Photograph: Aaron Schwartz/EPA First Thing: Trump threatens to impose US tolls on Hormuz shipping as strikes on Iran continue Change of US position on free navigation comes as two tankers hit by Iranian cruise missiles. Plus, the international outpouring of love for the late actor Sam Neill Good morning. The US has launched its third consecutive night of strikes on Iran , hours after Donald Trump said Washington would reinstate a maritime blockade on the country and charge ships for safe passage. The UAE said two ⁠national tankers ⁠were ​targeted by two Iranian cruise missiles in ⁠the southern lane of the strait ⁠of Hormuz in Omani territorial ​waters, ‌killing one ‌Indian crew member and wounding ‌eight others, including four seriously. Iran and the US are in theory nearly halfway through the 60-day period of an interim deal that was supposed to set up talks for a permanent end to the war, which began in February with the assassination of Iran’s supreme leader, Ali Khamenei. In reality, that deal has devolved into a series of attacks over the strait of Hormuz, resulting in the near-total collapse of an interim ceasefire and worrying world leaders that the conflict could fully resume. How has Trump changed his position on tolls? On Monday, Trump said the US would demand a 20% tariff on all cargoes shipped through the strait of Hormuz. Until now, the US had said the strait should remain open to all without tolls – as it was before Washington and Israel attacked Iran on 28 February. Any attempt by the US or Iran – which has also proposed tolls – to charge fees would violate global norms on freedom of navigation and would be likely to cause further economic disruption far beyond the region. Lindsey Graham’s sister appointed to serve rest of Republican’s Senate term View image in fullscreen Darline Graham Nordone (centre): ‘I think this is what Lindsey would have wanted.’ Photograph: Sean Rayford/AP Henry McMaster, South Carolina’s governor, appointed Lindsey Graham’s sister , Darline Graham Nordone, to replace him in the Senate after his death on Saturday, after Donald Trump recommended that she be given the role. Her appointment was welcomed by lawmakers from both parties, who saw Nordone as an appropriate replacement for the brother who had raised her after their parents died when she was a teenager. What did Nordone say about her appointment? In brief remarks, Nordone, 64, said: “Lindsey has always been there for me, and now I will be there for him. I promise to work hard over the next several months to support the president and carry forward the efforts of my brother on behalf of the citizens of South Carolina and the United States. I think this is what Lindsey would have wanted, and I plan to honor him in this way. I miss you more than I can even put i