WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Donald Trump said the USS Boxer destroyed an Iranian drone in the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday after the aircraft threatened the ship by flying to within 1,000 yards of it.

DUBAI (Reuters) - The United States on Thursday demanded Iran immediately release a vessel it seized in the Gulf and a U.S. military commander in the region said the United States would work "aggressively" to ensure free passage of vessels through the vital waterway.

DUBAI, July 18 (Reuters) - The United States on Thursday demanded Iran immediately release a vessel it seized in the Gulf and a U.S. military commander in the region said the United States would work "aggressively" to ensure free passage of vessels through the vital waterway.

WASHINGTON, July 18 (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump was unclear on Thursday over whether his administration was looking at imposing sanctions on Turkey following its purchase of Russian air defense systems, sparking confusion at a tense time for relations between the two nations.

GENEVA, July 18 (Reuters) - Four progressive Democratic members of Congress vilified by U.S. President Donald Trump are "fantastic," U.N. human rights chief Michelle Bachelet said on Thursday.

NEW YORK, July 18 (Reuters) - Oil fell about 2.5% a barrel on Thursday, weighed down by weakness in U.S. equities markets and an expectation that crude output would rise in the Gulf of Mexico following last week's hurricane in the region.

SAO PAULO/RIO DE JANEIRO (Reuters) - Two Iranian vessels have been stranded for weeks at Brazilian ports, unable to head back to Iran due to lack of fuel, which state-run oil firm Petrobras refuses to sell them due to sanctions imposed by the United States.

WASHINGTON, July 18 (Reuters) - The United States imposed sanctions on Thursday on five people and an international network of companies the U.S. Treasury said are involved in the procurement of materials for Iran's nuclear program.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump said on Thursday his administration has not ruled out imposing sanctions on Turkey over its purchase of a Russian air defense system.