While US military says it will blockade Iranian ports only, move would have ripples worldwide, according to analysts.
Despite the relentless bombing, Sana refuses to flee Tehran, clinging to resilience and fleeting moments of normalcy.
Lieutenant General Susan Coyle has held several senior command roles over a nearly 40-year military career.
The pope will also visit Cameroon, Angola and Equatorial Guinea during his 11-day trip to the continent.
The move to blockade the Strait of Hormuz is the latest escalation in the war after failure to sign peace deal.
Israel's envoy to the US has far-right ties and has engaged in contentious rhetoric during Lebanese peace negotiations.
Leo, who last year became the first US-born pope, has emerged as an outspoken critic of the US-Israeli war on Iran.
Asian stocks fall as naval blockade threat injects new turmoil into financial markets.
Vessels will still be able to transit the Strait of Hormuz to and from non-Iranian ports, says US Central Command.
CENTCOM says the blockade will begin at 14:00 GMT, as Iran warns of even higher prices at the pump.