Caroline Hepker

But the British government says that it won't be part of the naval effort, adding that its ships will only get involved if there is a viable plan.

Speaking before the blockade was announced, UK Health Secretary Wes Tweeting acknowledged relations with America have deteriorated.

West Streeting there, who added that the US president has said outrageous and incendiary things on social media.

The split between the two close allies comes as the Resolution Foundation think tank forecasts that the Iran war will mean a year where living standards fall for UK households.

Meanwhile, Germany is cutting tax on gasoline by 17 cents per litre as it sets out a 1.6 billion euro package of energy price support.

Chancellor Friedrich Merz has announced the move, saying that the Iran war will impact his country for a long time to come.

The leaders' coalition is trying to revive a stagnant economy in the face of soaring energy costs.

Merz added that he thinks the US talks with Iran weren't well prepared.

And in other news, Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy has become the first golfer to win back-to-back Masters titles since Tiger Woods in 2002.

The defending champion finished on 12 under par, one shot ahead of the American Scotty Scheffler.

Speaking to Sky Sports News, McIlroy says his perseverance paid off.

Rory McIlroy speaking there.

He becomes only the fourth golfer in history to win back-to-back titles in Augusta.

So those are our top stories.

I wonder whether you've ever wielded a club.

Are you a golfer, Stephen Cowell?

There you go, golfers.

Yeah.

That's news when you want it with Bloomberg News Now.

I'm Caroline Hepke.