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Hello and welcome to News Hour, live from the BBC World Service in London.

I'm Rebecca Kesb.

Coming up later on the programme today, it is Oscar's weekend,

so we'll be hearing from the man who's up for an award for his

makeup on Frankenstein's creation in the film Frankenstein and the Haitian skier,

who's his country's first and only athlete ever to take part in the winter of Paralympics.

First though, let's get the latest on the conflict in the Middle East.

And will the heavy US bombardment of the tiny but crucial Iranian island of Haag be a game changer?

Will it force the Iranians to reopen the Straits of Hormuz?

That's certainly President Trump's hope.

He says on social media that overnight bombing has, quote, totally obliterated every military target on the island, which lies about 20 kilometres off the coast of mainland Iran in the northern Gulf.

Kag Island is a commercial lifeline for the Iranian regime because 90% of the country's crude oil for export is transported through it.

It's basically a giant terminal, a natural deep port where large tankers can load up and then head off down the Gulf. Well, Mr Trump has said he's chosen not to wipe out the oil infrastructure

on the island for now.

But he said he would reconsider that decision

if the Strait of Hormers remains closed.

And in the past few hours,

the President also called on other countries

to send warships to the Gulf to secure the Strait of Hormers.

So will, the US offensive on Hague Island work as a bargaining chip?

I've been speaking to Mark Kymett, former US Assistant Secretary of State

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