Michelle Kellerman

One officer who received the notice, Mariam Safi, writes that for the past year she and her colleagues were still on the payroll and offered to help evacuate Americans at the start of the U.S.

war against Iran.

The department declined that offer.

Michelle Kellerman, NPR News, the State Department.

As he takes over the rotating presidency of the U.N.

Security Council, China's Ambassador Fu Tsong says the Strait of Hormuz needs to open as quickly as possible.

The Chinese ambassador denies his country is cooperating with Iran's military and calls U.S.

sanctions on Chinese ships and companies, quote, illegitimate.

He's urging the U.S.

and Iran to keep a ceasefire in place and negotiate in good faith.

Michelle Kellerman, NPR News, the State Department.

Secretary General Antonio Guterres says even if the Strait reopens today, supply chains will take months to recover.

He says the conflict is driving up inflation, and the longer this goes on, the higher the cost to humanity.

So he had a message for all those involved.

Guterres is sending a top U.N.

official to Oman and Iran to discuss the idea of a humanitarian corridor, but he calls that the worst-case scenario if the strait remains restricted.

Michelle Kellerman, NPR News, the State Department.

Here's NPR's Michelle Kellerman.

State Department spokesperson Tommy Piggott says the U.S.

is releasing a limited edition U.S.