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This is the World In Brief from The Economist.

Our top stories.

Donald Trump said he would soon make a decision on a deal with Iran.

In a social media post, he wrote that the Strait of Hormuz must be reopened to commercial shipping and that America would lift its blockade.

Meanwhile, U.S. Central Command warned that it would target mine-laying vessels in

self-defense as part of a military operation in the Strait of Hormuz. Pete Hagseth told an audience at

the Shangri-la dialogue, an annual Gabfest of defense ministers, that America's relations with China

were better than they've been in many years. But America's Secretary of War said

that China's historic military build-up meant that his country's allies ought to spend more on

defense. Last year, Mr. Hexeth warned of the threat of China invading Taiwan. This year, he did not

mention the island. A flurry of defense tie-ups were also announced at Shangri-La.

...