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British agency says crew rescued from burning ship after projectile strike in Strait of Hormuz
DUBAI, July 20 – Sailors safely abandoned a vessel set alight after it was attacked in the Strait of Hormuz, the UK Maritime Trade Operations agency said Monday, as the United States and Iran vie for control over the vital waterway. “The vessel was struck by an unknown projectile. The crew safely abandoned the vessel and have been recovered by a tug boat. The fire has not been extinguished and the vessel is currently adrift. There is no reported environmental impact,” UKMTO said in an update to their earlier statement. Earlier, the agency had reported the ship was “on fire” eight nautical miles northwest of Kumzar, Oman. Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said that two oil tankers trying to transit the Strait of Hormuz “exploded and were brought to a halt”. During the war, Iran blockaded the Strait of Hormuz through which one-fifth of the world’s oil and LNG used to pass. As part of a memorandum of understanding signed with the United States, it has to work with Oman on the waterway’s future administration – which it has vowed will never be the same. In recent weeks, Iran has hit tankers using a route hugging the Omani coast to traverse the strait, in a bid to strongarm vessels into using its own waters and to pay for safe passage. — AFP
Why the Red Sea remains one of the world's most dangerous shipping routes
The warning has raised fears that the Iran conflict could threaten another critical shipping route, putting global energy supplies, international trade and maritime security under pressure. Also Read: Iran tells Houthis to close Red Sea gateway if US hits power network, sources say The concern is significant because the Red Sea has become even more important after disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, a key oil transit route between the Persian Gulf and the Arabian Sea. With Saudi Arabia shifting more crude exports through its Red Sea route to keep shipments flowing, any attack or blockade around the Bab el-Mandeb Strait could affect one of the world’s last major alternatives for Gulf energy exports. According to a Reuters report citing multiple sources, Iran has signalled that Yemen’s Houthi rebels could be prepared to disrupt shipping in the Red Sea if US attacks on Iran continue. The Houthis have reportedly positioned missiles and drones near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. The latest threat has brought renewed attention to a waterway that has already faced repeated attacks, forcing shipping companies to reroute vessels, increasing costs and disrupting global supply chains. Why is the Red Sea important for global trade?The Red Sea is a narrow but strategically important waterway located between northeast Africa and the Arabian Peninsula. For centuries, it has served as a major trade route, but its importance increased significantly after the opening of Egypt’s Suez Canal in 1869. The canal created a direct maritime connection between the Mediterranean Sea and the Indian Ocean, allowing ships travelling between Asia and Europe to avoid the much longer route around Africa. Today, the Red Sea and the Suez Canal together form one of the most important shipping corridors in the world. Also Read: After Hormuz, Iran turns to Red Sea gateway as new pressure point Every day, vessels carrying a wide range of goods pass through the route, including: - Crude oil and petroleum products - Liquefied natural gas (LNG) - Food grains - Electronics - Automobiles - Machinery - Consumer goods The northern end connects with the Mediterranean Sea through the Suez Canal. This makes the Bab el-Mandeb and the Suez Canal together a vital bridge between Asian manufacturing hubs and European markets. Before Houthi attacks disrupted shipping in 2023, nearly 10% of global seaborne trade passed through Bab el-Mandeb annually. Why has the Red Sea become strategically important for oil markets?The Red Sea’s importance has increased further because of disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz. The Strait of Hormuz, located between Iran and Oman, is one of the world’s most important energy chokepoints, with around one-fifth of global oil supplies traditionally passing through it. After tensions disrupted traffic through Hormuz, Gulf countries began relying more heavily on alternative routes. Saudi Arabia, the world’s largest crude exporter, has used pipelines connecting its oil fields to the Red Sea port of Yanbu to continue exporting crude. Saudi Arabia diverted more than 70% of its normal daily crude exports to Yanbu, according to data from Kpler and Signal Ocean. Shipments from Yanbu averaged around 4 million barrels per day in recent weeks, compared with about 973,000 barrels per day during the same period last year. Kpler data showed that petroleum volumes moving through Bab el-Mandeb reached 7.4 million barrels per day in June, accounting for around 7% of global oil output. This has helped limit the impact of disruptions elsewhere. However, any serious threat to the Red Sea route could create pressure on global oil markets because both major energy corridors would face risks at the same time. Why is the Red Sea considered dangerous?The Red Sea is considered dangerous because of a combination of geography, regional conflicts and the presence of armed groups capable of targeting commercial vessels. The biggest vulnerability is the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. The waterway is narrow, meaning ships have limited room to manoeuvre. Even limited attacks using missiles, drones or small boats can force shipping companies to temporarily suspend operations. The route became a major security concern after Yemen’s Houthi rebels began attacking commercial vessels following the October 2023 Hamas attack on Israel and Israel’s military campaign in Gaza. The Houthis said they were targeting ships linked to Israel in support of Palestinians. However, their definition of vessels connected to Israel expanded, resulting in attacks affecting broader commercial shipping. Major shipping companies, including Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd, diverted vessels away from the Red Sea and sent them around the Cape of Good Hope at the southern tip of Africa. The alternative route adds thousands of miles to journeys, increases fuel consumption and raises insurance and freight costs. Who are the Houthis and why do they matter?The Houthis, officially known as Ansar Allah, are a Yemeni political and military movement that emerged in the northern province of Saada during the 1990s. The group began as a movement opposing Yemen’s government and later became a major military force during Yemen’s civil war. In 2014, the Houthis seized control of Yemen’s capital Sanaa, triggering a conflict with the internationally recognised government backed by Saudi Arabia and its allies. The Houthis now control large parts of northern Yemen, including areas along the Red Sea coastline. Iran supports the Houthis as part of its regional “Axis of Resistance”, which includes groups such as Hezbollah in Lebanon and Iraqi Shiite militias. However, the relationship is complicated. While Iran provides political and military support, the Houthis have their own domestic goals and do not always act directly on Tehran’s instructions. The United States has accused Iran of providing weapons, funding and training to the Houthis. The group denies being an Iranian proxy and says it develops its own military capabilities. What happened during earlier Red Sea attacks?The Houthis previously disrupted global shipping after launching attacks on commercial vessels in late 2023. The attacks caused shipping traffic through the Red Sea to decline sharply as companies prioritised safety over shorter routes. The disruption affected global supply chains, with businesses facing: - Longer delivery times - Higher shipping costs - Rising insurance premiums - Increased fuel expenses The US and UK also carried out strikes against Houthi positions, while European naval missions supported maritime security operations. Although attacks later reduced, the latest warnings have raised concerns that the Red Sea could again become a major conflict zone. Why is Iran threatening the Red Sea route?Analysts believe Iran’s warning about the Bab el-Mandeb Strait is aimed at increasing pressure on the United States and its allies. While the Strait of Hormuz remains Iran’s strongest strategic leverage point, the Red Sea provides another way to affect global trade. A senior Houthi official, Mohammad al-Farah, warned that the group could close Bab el-Mandeb if tensions escalated. "If the current situation aggravates, the Bab el-Mandeb Strait and the Strait of Hormuz will be closed in an operational alliance. Oil prices would then skyrocket to $200 a barrel in a dreadful shock," he warned. Middle East scholar Fawaz Gerges told Reuters that Iran was signalling its ability to threaten both major maritime chokepoints. "Iran is willing to go all the way," Gerges told Reuters. He added that the message from Tehran was that "not only Hormuz, but Bab al-Mandab, is at risk." However, analysts say the Houthis may not immediately move against shipping, as doing so could invite retaliation from the US and Israel and risk their fragile truce with Saudi Arabia. How Red Sea attacks affect global shippingA prolonged Red Sea crisis could affect the global economy in several ways. Higher oil pricesAny disruption to Gulf energy exports could reduce available supplies and push crude prices higher. Increased shipping costsLonger routes around Africa increase fuel consumption, insurance costs and freight charges. Supply chain delaysIndustries dependent on Asian-European trade routes could face delays in receiving goods and components. Inflation risksHigher energy and transport costs could increase prices for consumers worldwide. What does the Red Sea crisis mean for India?The Red Sea is particularly important for India because a significant share of its trade with Europe, North Africa and parts of North America passes through the Suez Canal. Any disruption could affect India through: - Higher crude oil import costs - Increased freight and insurance expenses - Delays in exports and imports - Additional inflationary pressure For India, the Red Sea crisis is not only a geopolitical issue but also a trade and energy security concern. The Red Sea has become one of the world’s most important and vulnerable shipping routes because it connects major markets, carries critical energy supplies and sits at the intersection of several geopolitical conflicts. The latest Iran-Houthi warnings have increased fears that the conflict could spread beyond the Gulf and threaten another global trade artery. Whether the threat remains a warning or turns into actual disruption will determine the next challenge for global shipping, energy markets and economies dependent on stable trade routes. (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel) (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel)
Marco Rubio Says US 'Always' Open To Iran Diplomacy, Warns It Won't 'Be Good' For Tehran If Talks Fail: '
In the midst of continuous military strikes, Secretary of State Marco Rubio has expressed that the U.S. remains receptive to diplomatic discussions with Iran. “The United States always remains open to a diplomatic solution. We’ve tried multiple times with Iran, and we’ll continue to try. If that door opens, we’ll be happy to see,” Rubio told CNN on Sunday before he departed for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations summit in Manila. Rubio criticized Iran for its attacks on ships and for blocking the Strait of Hormuz. He mentioned the memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the U.S. and Iran that was agreed upon in June, designed to enhance the ceasefire and restore traffic through the crucial waterway. “They can’t have an MOU that’s alive if they’re violating the terms of it,” Rubio stated. He added that despite Iran’s indications of willingness to negotiate, its actions, such as launching missiles and drones against ships, is what is driving the U.S. is retaliation. “..their behavior is what we’re responding to,” said Rubio. When questioned about the potential repercussions of the failure in diplomatic efforts, Rubio responded, “I don’t think it’ll be good for Iran. I mean, Iran’s economy is in shambles.” Hormuz Risks Grow as War Widens Rubio’s statement came as the U.S. military initiated its ninth consecutive night of strikes against Iran. The escalating military campaign against Iran and rising American casualties have renewed concerns over oil supplies through the Strait of Hormuz. At the time of writing, Brent crude oil prices were trading 3.2% higher at $90.89 per barrel. The Pentagon said a third U.S. service member had been killed in the latest fighting. The latest death brings the total number of U.S. military fatalities since the conflict began in February to 17. Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors. Image:Sam Navarro-Imagn Images © 2026 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved. To add Benzinga News as your preferred source on Google, click here.
Analysis: New US escalation in Iran makes Trump’s endgame vacuum more urgent | CNN Politics
More US combat deaths and a widening reescalation of the Iran war are putting a new spin on a long unanswered question: What is President Donald Trump’s endgame and how will he deliver it? From its initial shots, this war has been under-explained by the administration. The return to something like full-scale aerial war after a ninth consecutive night of US air raids is no exception. The president seems to be bombing again because the personal, political and economic costs of Iran’s major win so far — its stranglehold on the Strait of Hormuz — are impossible for him to accept. But he has yet to tell Americans why he believes this tactic may be more successful than it was before. Meanwhile, the sharply increased tempo of US bombing and Iran’s broadened retaliation — the attack that killed two US service members and left one missing last week was in Jordan — risks pulling the entire region back into the conflagration. Jordan, a US ally that lies east of Israel and west of Iraq, is more distant to Iran than US targets in the Gulf states. But Tehran’s success in hitting US troops in the country shows that it retains lethal capacities despite weeks of American attacks. On Sunday, Iran accused the US of attacking an under-construction nuclear power plant and warned of an appropriate response. Israel said it was ready to immediately resume combat if attacked. The Iran war is not yet the kind of “forever war” in the Middle East that the president repeatedly swore off fighting. But it is nowhere near a finite war either. How can Trump reverse Iran’s big win? Absent some unforeseen shift in the brutal regime’s political foundation inside Iran, it’s unclear how this round of strikes could meaningfully reshape its options. The administration has not said whether its aim with the new strikes is solely to disable Iranian assets along the Strait of Hormuz that allow Tehran to attack civilian shipping, or whether it is preparing the ground for wider action potentially involving ground troops. Another unknown is whether the president is now more willing to go after civilian targets as a tool of extra pressure on Iran’s battered economy and power structure. And only time will tell whether he has the patience to tolerate the global economic shocks that may ensue before his reimposed blockade on ships and ports decisively increases the heat on Iran. After all, he told Americans last month that he inked an initial agreement to end the war because he didn’t want to cause another Great Depression. That was seen as a bid to mitigate political damage to the GOP ahead of November’s midterm elections. Such questions are especially pertinent now not just because the conflict is ramping up nearly five months after Trump declared it won in a couple of days, but because this new phase seems to be an attempt to fix the failings of the initial war. US forces are now effectively fighting to deprive Iran of its capacity to use the strait to hold the global economy hostage. The strait was open to free navigation before the war. If Trump can’t restore that status quo, he will be remembered for a strategic disaster. But his options for doing so are limited, especially since aspects of the newly constituted Iranian regime seem actively bullish about more war. The president could have explained his latest thinking on the war in a national address last week. But he mentioned it only obliquely, devoting most of his time to claims that the US electoral system corrupted, even though declassified documents released by the White House failed to back up his comments. That omission only added to the strategic uncertainty. More US deaths US casualty figures for the Iran war bear no comparison to the deaths and injuries the nation suffered during the Afghan and Iraq wars. But every loss rips apart a family. And every loss increases the onus on political leaders to demonstrate the mission justifies the sacrifice. On Friday, two personnel were killed in an Iranian strike on a US base in Jordan; another is missing. On Saturday, a US soldier died in northern Iraq during a controlled detonation of unexploded ordnance from a downed Iranian drone. This brought the US death toll to 17. Civilian casualties in Iran are presumed to be higher but are impossible for outside media outlets to verify. Trump reacted to the deaths of the first two service personnel in an interview with the New York Post. He called the losses “a shame” and said he’d contact the families of the fallen. He told NewsNation that “we hate to see it happen.” The most direct attempt Sunday by the administration to explain its actions came from US Energy Secretary Chris Wright. He told ABC News’ “This Week” that the president’s “focus is on degrading the Iranian ability to terrorize the world, to hold world commerce hostage, as they are doing right now, and to prevent Iran from getting nuclear weapons. That is unchanged.” Wright disputed the accuracy of public reports showing the near-cutoff of tanker traffic through the strait. Open-source data from maritime tracking agency MarineTraffic reported that traffic through the strait dipped to just eight ships on July 16, down from 15 a day earlier. Before the war, an average of about 116 ships used the vital sea lanes daily. Republican Rep. Michael McCaul of Texas told “Fox News Sunday” that the military “was winning this war against Iran.” He added: “We stopped … to negotiate a ceasefire and a negotiated settlement.” McCaul was referencing the memorandum of understanding that Trump said achieved all US goals but that collapsed partly because Iran sought to demonstrate its control over the strait. McCaul said the “fundamental objective now” was for the US military to take out Iranian launch pads and drones. On CNN’s “State of the Union” on Sunday, Democratic Sen. John Fetterman, who broke with factions of his party over the war and his support for Israel, said Trump should press on. “I think it’s entirely appropriate to continue to confront Iran,” Fetterman told Jake Tapper. But Sen. Mark Warner, the top Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee, said: “This is what happens when you start a war of choice.” Warner, a member of the Gang of Eight top congressional leaders briefed on the most sensitive intelligence, told CBS’ “Face the Nation” that “I can say unequivocally there was no imminent threat from Iran.” Is there a way out? The current Washington debate about the war, like Trump’s public statements, seems only to illuminate a vicious circle. Attacking Iranian positions around the strait and civilian targets like bridges used by the military may degrade Tehran’s threat. But in an age of drones, when just a few missiles can deter ships from tackling the strait, will the US military ever be able to reduce risks to tolerable levels? Rebuking Trump over the war may work as a political argument for Democrats ahead of the midterms. But it does nothing to help find a resolution. If political pressure forces Trump to walk away, the world economy will be held to ransom by a tyrannical regime in Tehran. And there’s no sign anyway that it will agree to concessions through diplomacy that US and the world may deem acceptable. The course of escalating air strikes might work for a time, but without repeatedly returning to military action, Trump, or the next US commander in chief, may struggle to ensure Iran’s threat has been decisively eliminated. And without the visibility that an elusive nuclear agreement could offer through international monitoring, the idea — if only theoretical — that the Islamic Republic might race to an atomic bomb can’t be ruled out. Perhaps this intractability best explains Trump’s latest strategy of escalation without a clear end game. Retired US Navy Adm. James Stavridis told Tapper that all Trump’s options were bad. Iran doesn’t “have a great hand of cards, but they’re playing it pretty well … kind of reminiscent of the North Vietnamese in the war in Vietnam or the Taliban in Afghanistan,” Stavridis said. “So they’re working to make us determine that this candle is not worth the game, that we would in fact ultimately walk away.” He continued: “I don’t think they will succeed at that strategy, but it’s certainly the one they’re pursuing. And they are thus far at least hanging around the hoop and staying in the game.”
US bombing of Iran expands as American troops killed and Tehran retaliates against the Gulf states
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — The United States conducted a new round of airstrikes early Monday targeting Iran after announcing the death of another American service member. Iran responded by launching an attack targeting Bahrain, the home of the U.S. Navy's 5th Fleet. The latest attacks again showed how, step by step, the U.S. and Iran have inched closer to all-out war as last month’s interim deal meant to permanently end the fighting has crumbled and shipping traffic in the Strait of Hormuz has largely stalled. Both sides have targeted civilian infrastructure relied on by millions of people, while benchmark Brent crude rose Monday above $90 a barrel, further fueling a global energy crisis sparked by the conflict. The U.S. military said the service member was killed in Iraq on Saturday during the “controlled detonation” of a downed Iranian drone. “We hit them very hard again tonight,” U.S. President Donald Trump said. “And we did that in honor of the” soldiers killed, he said. US launches ninth night of Iran strikes The U.S. military’s Central Command announced a new round of strikes early Monday, now into their ninth straight night. Central Command said it targeted “Iranian military command centers, air defense and coastal surveillance sites, maritime capabilities, missile and drone launch sites and communications networks.” There was no immediate word from Iran on any casualties or damage from the attacks. Iranian state media reported explosions being heard in southern and northwestern Iran. As the strikes began, a ship caught fire early Monday in the Strait of Hormuz near the coastline of Oman, the British military said. It was unclear what sparked the blaze off Oman, which has been a route the U.S. military has encouraged ships to travel to avoid Iran’s control. Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard later claimed it was targeting tankers in the strait. Tehran has retaliated by hitting U.S.-allied countries throughout the Middle East. The Strait of Hormuz remains key to the conflict Trump has threatened to target Iran’s power stations and bridges to try to compel Tehran to loosen its hold on the Strait of Hormuz, which saw one-fifth of traded global oil supplies transit before the war. Recent attacks suggest the U.S. military is carrying out that plan. The U.S. in the past week reimposed a naval blockade on Iranian ports to halt its shipments of crude oil. The military on Saturday said it had redirected six ships and disabled one since then. The halfway point has passed in the 60 days the deal set out to negotiate the permanent end of the war and other issues, including Iran’s nuclear program. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters that the U.S. is still open to negotiating with Iran but that “it has to be real.” “We’re going to continue to respond. If the door opens to diplomacy — if the guys that want to do something productive for Iran win and take control of that system, or take control of the negotiations — that’ll be a very positive development,” Rubio said. “That’s not where we are tonight, unfortunately.” Iranian authorities on Sunday said at least 50 people have been killed and 517 wounded in the latest rounds of U.S. strikes. Since the war began on Feb. 28, 17 U.S. service members have been killed. ___ Associated Press writer Michelle L. Price in Washington contributed to this report.
Energy stocks lead share market higher as oil surges
Australia's share market is creeping higher, led by a rally in energy stocks as oil jumped to six-week highs, after the US and Iran intensified attacks on each other over the weekend. The main S&P/ASX200 index had gained 1.4 points by midday on Monday, to be up 0.02 per cent to 8,798.1, as the All Ordinaries improved by 2.6 points, or 0.03 per cent, to 8,981.4. "The war between the US and Iran is escalating again - and in a way that is resembling the tumultuous early days of the conflict in March and April," Capital.com senior market analyst Kyle Rodda said. "Traffic out of the Persian Gulf has reportedly fallen to a trickle, suggesting further upside risk to oil prices that could see crude gap higher today." Brent crude topped $US90 a barrel for the first time since early June, after several days of the US enforcing a military blockade of Iranian ports and the Middle East nation targeting ships moving through the Strait of Hormuz, a choke point for a fifth of global crude supplies. ASX-listed energy stocks outperformed the exchange with the sector up almost two per cent by midday, tracking with strong leads from Woodside, Santos, and refinery operators Ampol and Viva Energy. Coal miners also performed well, while uranium stocks rallied as Deep Yellow awarded $34 million in construction contracts for its flagship Tumas project in Namibia. The heavyweight financials segment improved by 0.2 per cent, tracking modest gains from the big four banks, while insurer QBE advanced almost one per cent after announcing it would redeem $500 million in subordinated notes issued in 2020. Non-energy miners continued to struggle, with the raw materials sector down 0.3 per cent as BHP traded flat and Rio Tinto lost 1.4 per cent to $158.70. Gold producers were mixed but bigger players were largely sluggish, as the precious metal traded at $US4,004 ($A5,730) an ounce. South32 improved its production across multiple projects and boosted its June quarter sales by 15 per cent, helping lift the mixed miner's share price 1.4 per cent to $3.96. Consumer-facing stocks were subdued, as staples improved by 0.3 per cent and cyclicals traded roughly flat. Shares in Dan Murphy's and BWS owner Endeavour fell more than three per cent after a downgrade from Morgan Stanley, which noted a limited recovery in alcohol demand. Meanwhile, the Australian Securities and Investments Commission secured a record $830 million in civil penalty orders in the 2025/26 financial year and will return $643.5 million in remediation, refunds, and payments back to Australians in connection with its enforcement work. The Australian dollar was buying 69.88 US cents, up slightly from 69.84 US cents on Friday at 5pm.
Oil Price Today (July 20): Crude oil jumps 3%, crosses $90 as US and Iran exchange attacks. $100 in sight?
Crude oil price on July 20Brent crude futures rose $2.69, or 3.05%, to $90.79 a barrel, their highest level since June 11. The benchmark extended last week's rally, when it gained 15.9%, marking its biggest weekly advance since April. U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude climbed $2.19, or 2.65%, to $84.68 a barrel, the highest since June 12. Front-month WTI prices had jumped 15.5% last week, their strongest weekly gain since early March. Tensions in the Middle East worsened over the weekend as the U.S. carried out a ninth consecutive night of strikes on Iran, while U.S. allies Kuwait and Bahrain reported fresh Iranian attacks. Also read: A dangerous new phase of war? Iran's military is being hit 'very hard', says Donald Trump Both sides have increasingly targeted shipping activity in recent days. The U.S. said it is enforcing a naval blockade on Iranian ports, while Iran said it is targeting vessels that violate its navigation rules in the Strait of Hormuz, a vital waterway that typically carries around one-fifth of global oil trade. Separately, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations agency reported that a vessel was on fire northwest of Oman's Kumzar early on Monday. "The coming days and weeks will provide a clearer picture of the sustainable level of oil exports from the region under renewed dual blockades," Barclays analyst Amarpreet Singh said in a note. What are experts saying? Goldman Sachs said Brent crude could climb above $110 a barrel in the fourth quarter if the recovery in Gulf exports remains delayed. However, the investment bank expects prices to retreat into the $60s by the end of the year if geopolitical tensions ease and production recovers more quickly than anticipated. "At the current point there are no signs of a ceasefire again. But in case there is a ceasefire immediately imposed, we don't expect Brent oil prices to fall beyond $70 per barrel. It is likely to remain the lower support for the near term," Pranav Mer, Senior Vice President, Currency and Commodity at JM Financial, told ETMarkets. Anindya Banerjee, Head of Commodity Research at Kotak Securities, said crude oil has once again started factoring in geopolitical risks. "Any strike on major Gulf export infrastructure could force a retest of $95-100 and beyond," he said. Also read:Oil is crude once again! Is $95 the new normal and what it means for Indian investors? He added that the market is responding less to the military action itself and more to the fading prospects of diplomacy. He noted that Tehran has set fresh conditions for restarting negotiations, and every new development is delaying the return of normal tanker movement through the Strait of Hormuz, where traffic had already remained well below pre-war levels. Nuvama Institutional Equities cautioned that a prolonged closure of the Strait of Hormuz could disrupt nearly 20 million barrels a day of crude oil flows. In such a scenario, it said oil prices could rise to between $110 and $150 a barrel. (Disclaimer: Recommendations, suggestions, views and opinions given by the experts are their own. These do not represent the views of The Economic Times) (You can now subscribe to our ETMarkets WhatsApp channel) (What's moving Sensex and Nifty Track latest market news, stock tips, Budget 2025, Share Market on Budget 2025 and expert advice, on ETMarkets. Also, ETMarkets.com is now on Telegram. For fastest news alerts on financial markets, investment strategies and stocks alerts, subscribe to our Telegram feeds .) Subscribe to ET Prime and read the Economic Times ePaper Online.and Sensex Today. Top Trending Stocks: SBI Share Price, Axis Bank Share Price, HDFC Bank Share Price, Infosys Share Price, Wipro Share Price, NTPC Share Price (You can now subscribe to our ETMarkets WhatsApp channel) (What's moving Sensex and Nifty Track latest market news, stock tips, Budget 2025, Share Market on Budget 2025 and expert advice, on ETMarkets. Also, ETMarkets.com is now on Telegram. For fastest news alerts on financial markets, investment strategies and stocks alerts, subscribe to our Telegram feeds .) Subscribe to ET Prime and read the Economic Times ePaper Online.and Sensex Today. Top Trending Stocks: SBI Share Price, Axis Bank Share Price, HDFC Bank Share Price, Infosys Share Price, Wipro Share Price, NTPC Share Price
Oil prices jump 3% as US-Iran conflict intensifies, Brent crude tops $90 per barrel
Oil prices rallied on Monday after conflict between the United States and Iran intensified, raising fresh concerns over crude supplies from the Middle East as shipping through the Strait of Hormuz came under increasing pressure. Brent crude climbed above $90 a barrel, rising 2.30% to $90.13, while US benchmark WTI crude gained 2.07% to $84.20. The move extended last week's sharp rally, when Brent surged 15.9%, its biggest weekly gain since April and WTI rose 15.5%, its strongest weekly advance since early March. The latest gains followed another night of US military action against Iran. The US launched strikes for the ninth consecutive night, while Iran continued attacks across the region, with Bahrain and Kuwait reporting fresh missile and drone strikes. The growing hostilities have also disrupted movement through the Strait of Hormuz, a key maritime route that normally carries around one-fifth of global oil trade. The US said that it was enforcing a naval blockade on Iranian ports, while Iran has maintained that it is targeting ships that violate its navigation rules in the strategic waterway. Shipping activity through the strait has already slowed. LSEG data showed only four vessels passed through the route on Sunday, compared with eight a day earlier. Since Friday, three oil products tankers and one Very Large Crude Carrier have entered the strait to load crude. Adding to concerns, a vessel reportedly caught fire near Oman's coastline. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations agency reported the incident northwest of Kumzar and said the cause of the blaze was not immediately known. The British military also confirmed that a ship was on fire in the Strait of Hormuz. The US military has been urging commercial vessels to follow a route closer to Oman while transiting the strait. Iran, however, has responded by attacking ships using that route, insisting it should control navigation through the waterway. "The coming days and weeks will provide a clearer picture of the sustainable level of oil exports from the region under renewed dual blockades," Barclays analyst Amarpreet Singh said in a note cited by Reuters. "As things stand, we think oil markets are still too complacent about the potential fallout for inventories, which, unlike at the beginning of the war, are at the tightest of the past five years." Meanwhile, military conflict also widened. The US announced another round of strikes after confirming the death of another American service member, who it said was killed in Iraq during the "controlled detonation" of a downed Iranian drone. The military also said "unidentified remains" found on Sunday were being examined after one service member went missing following Friday's attack in Jordan. It said 17 US service members have been killed since the conflict began. In a statement, US Central Command said, "The strikes will continue degrading Iranian military capabilities used to attack commercial vessels and civilian mariners transiting the Strait of Hormuz." Iran, meanwhile, continued retaliatory attacks across the region. Bahrain, Jordan and Kuwait activated their air defences against incoming drones and missiles, while Israel warned that missiles fired towards Jordan could spill into Israeli territory. On the commodities front, escalating tensions have kept oil prices on an upward trajectory, leaving markets on edge. However, despite the recent rally, crude remains well below the peak of $126 a barrel reached during the early phase of the conflict.
Brent oil tops $90 as US, Iran intensify attacks in Middle East
Brent crude futures climbed $2.69, or 3.05%, to $90.79 by 2343 GMT, touching the highest since June 11, extending gains after rising 15.9% last week, its biggest weekly gain since April. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude was at $84.68 a barrel, up $2.19, or 2.65%, the loftiest since June 12. Front-month prices gained 15.5% last week, the largest weekly ascent since early March. The Middle East conflict escalated over the weekend with the U.S. conducting a ninth straight night of attacks against Iran, while U.S. allies Kuwait and Bahrain reported more Iranian strikes. In recent days both sides have taken aim at shipping traffic, with the U.S. saying it is enforcing a naval blockade on Iranian ports, and Iran saying it targets vessels violating its rules on navigating the Strait of Hormuz, which usually handles one-fifth of global oil trade. A vessel was on fire northwest of Oman's Kumzar, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations agency said early on Monday. "The coming days and weeks will provide a clearer picture of the sustainable level of oil exports from the region under renewed dual blockades," Barclays analyst Amarpreet Singh said in a note. "As things stand, we think oil markets are still too complacent about the potential fallout for inventories, which, unlike at the beginning of the war, are at the tightest of the past five years." Four vessels made the transit through the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday, down from eight in the previous day, LSEG data showed. At least three oil products tankers and one Very Large Crude Carrier, have entered the strait since Friday to load oil, the data showed. (You can now subscribe to our ETMarkets WhatsApp channel) (What's moving Sensex and Nifty Track latest market news, stock tips, Budget 2025, Share Market on Budget 2025 and expert advice, on ETMarkets. Also, ETMarkets.com is now on Telegram. For fastest news alerts on financial markets, investment strategies and stocks alerts, subscribe to our Telegram feeds .) Subscribe to ET Prime and read the Economic Times ePaper Online.and Sensex Today. Top Trending Stocks: SBI Share Price, Axis Bank Share Price, HDFC Bank Share Price, Infosys Share Price, Wipro Share Price, NTPC Share Price (You can now subscribe to our ETMarkets WhatsApp channel) (What's moving Sensex and Nifty Track latest market news, stock tips, Budget 2025, Share Market on Budget 2025 and expert advice, on ETMarkets. Also, ETMarkets.com is now on Telegram. For fastest news alerts on financial markets, investment strategies and stocks alerts, subscribe to our Telegram feeds .) Subscribe to ET Prime and read the Economic Times ePaper Online.and Sensex Today. Top Trending Stocks: SBI Share Price, Axis Bank Share Price, HDFC Bank Share Price, Infosys Share Price, Wipro Share Price, NTPC Share Price
Ship catches fire in Strait of Hormuz as US-Iran conflict escalates
Dubai: A ship caught fire early Monday in the Strait of Hormuz near the coastline of Oman, the British military said. The British military's United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations center issued a warning about the fire, saying it was unclear what sparked the blaze. Also Read: Why the Strait of Hormuz is losing importance The US military has been encouraging ships to use a route near Oman to transit the Strait of Hormuz. Iran has responded with attacks targeting those vessels, insisting it must have control over the crucial waterway through which a fifth of all oil and natural gas traded once passed in peacetime. The United States began a new round of airstrikes early Monday targeting Iran after announcing the death of another American service member, and Iran fired missiles toward Jordan that risked widening the conflict into neighboring Israel. Step by step, the US and Iran have inched closer to all-out war as last month's interim deal meant to permanently end the fighting has crumbled and shipping traffic in the Strait of Hormuz has largely stalled. Both sides have targeted civilian infrastructure relied on by millions of people. The US military said the service member was killed in Iraq on Saturday during the "controlled detonation" of a downed Iranian drone. Earlier, the military said its strikes targeted Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard to retaliate for Friday's killing of troops in Jordan. One service member was missing after that attack, and the military's new statement said "unidentified remains" were found Sunday and were being examined. Since the war began, 17 U.S. service members have been killed. Also Read: US and Iran exchange strikes as they struggle over Strait of Hormuz The renewed exchanges of fire, now in their second week, have seen the U.S. target bridges and electrical facilities in Iran. The US military's Central Command announced a new round of strikes early Monday, now into their ninth straight night. "The strikes will continue degrading Iranian military capabilities used to attack commercial vessels and civilian mariners transiting the Strait of Hormuz," Central Command said in a statement. Tehran has retaliated by hitting U.S.-allied countries throughout the Middle East. Bahrain, Jordan and Kuwait again activated air defenses for incoming Iranian drones and missiles. Israel warned that missiles launched toward neighboring Jordan could cause fire to spill over into Israeli territory for the first time in weeks. Iran's atomic energy agency said U.S. strikes targeted the construction site of a planned nuclear power plant in the southwest, state television reported. Satellite images from Planet Labs PBC of the Darkhovin nuclear plant site showed earth clearing but little construction as of July 9. Iran did not previously announce it as being targeted. The International Atomic Energy Agency said the site, in the "very early stages of construction," contained no nuclear material when the U.N. watchdog last visited. Jordan later summoned Iran's charge d'affaires to protest, state-run television reported. Israel's military said Iranian missiles launched toward the Jordanian port city of Aqaba just across the border could spill over, warning Israelis to expect the first air-raid sirens in weeks. Eilat, the Israeli city that neighbors Aqaba, cited security officials as saying two interceptors were launched from its outskirts to prevent the fall of debris. During the latest fighting, Iran has focused attacks on U.S.-allied Arab states rather than Israel, which launched the war with the U.S. on Feb. 28. "We are prepared to immediately resume combat," the Israeli military chief of staff, Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir, said. Kuwait said one of its power and water desalination plants was attacked for the second time in two days, causing fires. Its Ministry of Electricity, Water and Renewable Energy said the power grid remains stable. In Kuwait, about 90% of drinking water comes from desalination. The secretary-general of the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council, Jasem Mohamed al-Budaiwi, has accused Iran of war crimes for strikes on infrastructure and civilian facilities. International humanitarian law generally protects civilian infrastructure such as bridges and power plants from attack, but such sites can lose protections if used for military purposes. In such cases, attacks must be proportionate and minimize civilian harm. (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel) The British military's United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations center issued a warning about the fire, saying it was unclear what sparked the blaze. Also Read: Why the Strait of Hormuz is losing importance The US military has been encouraging ships to use a route near Oman to transit the Strait of Hormuz. Iran has responded with attacks targeting those vessels, insisting it must have control over the crucial waterway through which a fifth of all oil and natural gas traded once passed in peacetime. The United States began a new round of airstrikes early Monday targeting Iran after announcing the death of another American service member, and Iran fired missiles toward Jordan that risked widening the conflict into neighboring Israel. Step by step, the US and Iran have inched closer to all-out war as last month's interim deal meant to permanently end the fighting has crumbled and shipping traffic in the Strait of Hormuz has largely stalled. Both sides have targeted civilian infrastructure relied on by millions of people. The US military said the service member was killed in Iraq on Saturday during the "controlled detonation" of a downed Iranian drone. Earlier, the military said its strikes targeted Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard to retaliate for Friday's killing of troops in Jordan. One service member was missing after that attack, and the military's new statement said "unidentified remains" were found Sunday and were being examined. Since the war began, 17 U.S. service members have been killed. Also Read: US and Iran exchange strikes as they struggle over Strait of Hormuz The renewed exchanges of fire, now in their second week, have seen the U.S. target bridges and electrical facilities in Iran. The US military's Central Command announced a new round of strikes early Monday, now into their ninth straight night. "The strikes will continue degrading Iranian military capabilities used to attack commercial vessels and civilian mariners transiting the Strait of Hormuz," Central Command said in a statement. Tehran has retaliated by hitting U.S.-allied countries throughout the Middle East. Bahrain, Jordan and Kuwait again activated air defenses for incoming Iranian drones and missiles. Israel warned that missiles launched toward neighboring Jordan could cause fire to spill over into Israeli territory for the first time in weeks. Iran says a nuclear site under construction was hitFootage released Sunday by the U.S. military appeared to show strikes carried out by fighter jets and by Tomahawk cruise missiles launched from the sea. One target site appeared to be in a valley of a mountainous region. The Guard often has missile bases and other military equipment tucked into mountain ranges. Iran's atomic energy agency said U.S. strikes targeted the construction site of a planned nuclear power plant in the southwest, state television reported. Satellite images from Planet Labs PBC of the Darkhovin nuclear plant site showed earth clearing but little construction as of July 9. Iran did not previously announce it as being targeted. The International Atomic Energy Agency said the site, in the "very early stages of construction," contained no nuclear material when the U.N. watchdog last visited. Jordan and nearly every Gulf Arab state have been targetedJordan's military said it shot down several Iranian missiles. The country hosts major U.S. bases and relies on U.S. air-defense systems. The missiles did not cause casualties or damage, according to Jordan's military. Jordan later summoned Iran's charge d'affaires to protest, state-run television reported. Israel's military said Iranian missiles launched toward the Jordanian port city of Aqaba just across the border could spill over, warning Israelis to expect the first air-raid sirens in weeks. Eilat, the Israeli city that neighbors Aqaba, cited security officials as saying two interceptors were launched from its outskirts to prevent the fall of debris. During the latest fighting, Iran has focused attacks on U.S.-allied Arab states rather than Israel, which launched the war with the U.S. on Feb. 28. "We are prepared to immediately resume combat," the Israeli military chief of staff, Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir, said. Kuwait said one of its power and water desalination plants was attacked for the second time in two days, causing fires. Its Ministry of Electricity, Water and Renewable Energy said the power grid remains stable. In Kuwait, about 90% of drinking water comes from desalination. The secretary-general of the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council, Jasem Mohamed al-Budaiwi, has accused Iran of war crimes for strikes on infrastructure and civilian facilities. International humanitarian law generally protects civilian infrastructure such as bridges and power plants from attack, but such sites can lose protections if used for military purposes. In such cases, attacks must be proportionate and minimize civilian harm. (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel) (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel) Explore More Stories
US targets Iran in ninth night of strikes in wake of US troop deaths – Middle East crisis live
The Israeli military says sirens sounded a short time ago in the southern Israeli areas of Kfar Aza and Sa’ad but it had been determined to be from a “false identification”. The IDF posted the announcement on Telegram. Preliminary deal aimed at ending the war has collapsed as US and Iran fight to break deadlock over strait of Hormuz The Israeli military says sirens sounded a short time ago in the southern Israeli areas of Kfar Aza and Sa’ad but it had been determined to be from a “false identification”. The IDF posted the announcement on Telegram. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations agency said it had received a report of an incident 8 nautical miles (14.8 km) north-west of Oman’s Kumzar, where information from a verified source indicated that a vessel was on fire. UKMTO, cited by Reuters, said the cause of the fire had not been verified. Hello and welcome to our live coverage of developments in the Middle East. The US military says it is beginning its ninth night of strikes on Iran, with an interim deal aimed at ending the war appearing to have all but collapsed. “The strikes will continue degrading Iranian military capabilities used to attack commercial vessels and civilian mariners transiting the strait of Hormuz,” US Central Command said on X on Sunday. The attacks on Sunday come after a US service member was killed in Iraq the previous day during a “controlled detonation” of a downed Iranian drone, according to the US military, and two American troops were killed in Jordan on Friday. The US military said carried out strikes against Iran on Saturday to “swiftly punish” the country’s Revolutionary Guard for the Jordan attack, while Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei said the US would pay for trying to “escalate” the conflict. In other key developments: Bahrain’s interior ministry said overnight to Monday that its air raid sirens had sounded. “Citizens and residents are urged to remain calm and head to the nearest safe place,” it said on X. Bahrain, host of the US Fifth Fleet, has been targeted by Iranian strikes in recent days. Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said Monday it launched a “surprise attack” on an enemy command centre in Syria, in a statement reported by state news agency Irna. They attack was “in revenge for the blood of martyred soldiers of Iranshahr”, a city in south-east Iran, Irna said on Telegram. Iran said it targeted two US bases in Kuwait in response to more than a week of intensifying attacks, which Tehran says have hit transport and infrastructure sites, including an under-construction nuclear power plant. Kuwait and Bahrain have borne the brunt of attacks by Iran on its Gulf neighbours since hostilities resumed this month despite a ceasefire and memorandum of understanding between Washington and Tehran. Jordan also reported intercepting missiles, a day after the US military said the two service members were killed there Friday and another had gone missing in action as they “defended against Iranian ballistic missile and drone attacks”. US Central Command’s announcement that a service member died in northern Iraq during the controlled detonation of an unexploded ordnance from a downed Iranian drone brought to 17 the confirmed number of American military fatalities since the war began. Iran’s health ministry said on Saturday that 50 people had been killed and more than 500 injured in US strikes on the country over the past three weeks.
Oil jumps after Middle East attacks hit energy asset, shipping
Oil jumps after Middle East attacks hit energy asset, shipping - Oil prices rose sharply after attacks in the Middle East damaged a key oil facility in Kuwait and targeted ships in the Strait of Hormuz. - Tensions between the US and Iran escalated with attacks expanding to bridges, utilities, and ports, ending hopes of a fragile ceasefire. - Iranian forces stopped ships in the Strait of Hormuz amid US blockades, threatening vital energy shipments and prompting warnings from Iran's Supreme Leader. AI generated Oil jumped after the US and Iran escalated hostilities over the weekend, including an attack on a vital oil facility in Kuwait and the targeting of ships attempting to transit through the Strait of Hormuz. Brent rose above US$90 a barrel after surging almost 16 per cent last week, while West Texas Intermediate traded near US$85. Tehran said the ceasefire between the US and Iran has been effectively abandoned, raising the possibility of deepening disruptions to crucial energy flows through the narrow waterway. A week of back-and-forth attacks by both sides has expanded beyond strictly military targets to include bridges, utilities and port facilities, signaling little prospect of a return to the fragile truce. Kuwait Petroleum said Iran struck an oil facility on July 18, causing significant material damage. Kuwait bore the brunt of Iran’s retaliation, while Bahrain was targeted and Israel said on July 19 it intercepted an Iranian done near the Israel-Syria border. US forces hit Qeshm Island in the Persian Gulf, as well as southern cities including Shadegan, Sirik and Hajiabad, Iranian media reported. The Iranian Navy said on July 19 it had halted four unidentified ships attempting to use an “unsafe route” in the Strait of Hormuz after disregarding warnings. Two “met with accidents and were stopped in their tracks, while the others “abandoned the route and turned back,” the navy said. The US has resumed blockading Hormuz while Iran’s attacks on ships around the waterway have jeopardised the “shuttle run” trade through which Persian Gulf producers ferried out cargoes. On July 18, Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei has warned of “unforgettable lessons” for the US. BLOOMBERG
Gulf State citizens concerned, angry at Iran for strikes on their countries | The Jerusalem Post
Residents of Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and Jordan criticized Iranian aggression and called on the US and Israel to act in interviews with N12 published on Sunday. The latest US strikes on Iran have raised tensions in neighboring countries as Iran retaliated with strikes on US bases in the region and threatened to target infrastructure in Gulf states. “Since Iran resumed launching missiles over the past week, the situation in Bahrain has been extremely tense,” Bahraini author and activist Fatima Al Harbi told N12. “There is great concern about the escalation, because every additional missile or attack could affect the lives of innocent people in Bahrain and the Gulf states, as well as critical facilities, in a way that could harm Bahrain's economic situation," she said, but added that the Bahraini people were not just afraid. “Of course, there is great anger among the Bahraini people toward Iran, and all Bahrainis stand united behind Bahrain’s wise leadership, whether by volunteering for public service in every field or through prayers against our enemies,” she said. Iran will not succeed in defeating Israel but will harm region, former Saudi general says Former Saudi general Abdullah bin Ghanem Al-Qahtani criticized the Iranian regime’s actions and emphasized the importance of a response. “What Iran is doing in the region and against the region is extremely dangerous. All of its actions are directed against the region, its stability, its future, and the future of coming generations. This is a dangerous act that cannot be met with silence, and it cannot simply be allowed to pass without extremely serious consequences, when it is directed against everything in the region,” he said to N12. Al Qahtani explained that “Iran will not succeed in defeating Israel, fighting it, or harming it as it expects or claims it will, but it has certainly harmed the entire region.” Unfortunately, as Jordanian journalist Mustafa Zouati explained to N12, while Israel would attack back if attacked, not every Gulf state can afford to. “Jordan cannot take a firm and clear position in this war because of the political and economic consequences that could result. Jordan is a country that cannot bear such consequences, and it does not have the ability to adopt a hostile position, either toward Iran or toward the American side,” he said. According to Al Harbi, while diplomatic efforts continue to try preventing escalation, “it is also important for US military activity to continue as long as the Iranian threat to our countries has not yet been removed.” Al Qahtani also called on Israel to take action to resolve conflicts within the region. “Israel must resolve the Palestinian issue. The United States must assist all the countries of the region so that terrorism does not return and so that Iran or any other party no longer has excuses,” he told N12. "The reasonable people in Israel must quickly resolve the existing problems between themselves and the Arab countries. There are already Arab plans ready for implementation, but it seems Benjamin Netanyahu does not want peace at this stage, or at least not a peace that would ensure the security and stability of everyone," he added.
US service member killed in Iraq during ‘controlled detonation’ of Iranian drone
US service member killed in Iraq during ‘controlled detonation’ of Iranian drone, military says At least three American troops have been killed within recent days as US continues week-long strikes At least one American service member was killed after the controlled detonation of an unexploded Iranian drone, according to U.S. Central Command. A second service member was wounded during Saturday’s operation, military officials announced Sunday. The U.S. military also recovered unidentified remains after a search for a missing service member in the wake of an earlier attack that killed two other service members on Friday. Sunday’s announcement brings the U.S. death toll from the months-long war in Iran to at least 16 service members. More than 400 troops have been wounded throughout the campaign. A tenuous ceasefire has effectively collapsed, risking an all-out assault and a revival of the months-long war. American forces continued eight consecutive nights of strikes on Saturday as Iran ramps up missile and drone attacks on U.S. allies and assets in the Persian Gulf. Donald Trump’s administration mounted a new wave of strikes after accusing Iran of attacking merchant ships in the Strait of Hormuz. Iran then launched attacks at Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Syria and Jordan, warning of a “full-scale offensive” should U.S. attacks continue. U.S. deaths include six service members who were killed after two refueling jets collided above Iraq earlier this year. An Iranian drone strike that hit a command post in Kuwait killed another six service members. A Navy pilot died in a helicopter crash in the Arabian Sea earlier this month. Trump, who was golfing at his Bedminster, New Jersey club on Saturday as Central Command announced the initial deaths, said news of Friday’s incident is a “very sad thing.” “We hate to see it happen. It’s in service to our country,” he told News Nation A statement issued on behalf of Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei said Trump’s signature on a memorandum of understanding was “worthless and invalid” and accused the U.S. of repeatedly breaching the commitments of the temporary peace deal. He warned “unforgettable lessons” should U.S. strikes continue. Trump told NewsNation on Saturday that he “couldn’t care less” about Iran abandoning the bilateral memorandum that was reached a month earlier. “Godspeed, heroes,” Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth wrote in a statement on X in response to news of the two service members on Saturday. “Their sacrifice only stiffens our resolve,” he added. Join our commenting forum Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their repliesComments
Israel threatens retaliation if Iran attacks
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz on Sunday threatened retaliation if Iran attacks his country, following Iranian missile launches toward the southern Jordanian city of Aqaba. “If Iran attacks Israel, we will respond and strike back, regardless of any other factor and without any conditions,” Katz said during a visit to ZAKA, an emergency rescue organization in Tel Aviv, according to Israel’s Channel 12. “The first thing we will do there is target the missile launchers,” he added. His remarks came after debris from missiles launched by Iran toward Aqaba reportedly fell in the area. Earlier Sunday, the Jordanian army said it intercepted three of four Iranian missiles launched toward the kingdom. The fourth fell in a remote area in southern Jordan, causing no casualties or damage. READ: 14 US refueling aircraft arrive in Israel amid Iran escalation: Report Israeli media reported explosions in Aqaba and the nearby Israeli city of Eilat as a result of aerial interception operations. The Israeli army claimed it detected missiles launched from Iran toward Aqaba and warned that some projectiles or debris could fall inside Israel. In a later statement, the Israeli army said it launched several interceptor missiles toward the debris of an intercepted missile after sirens were activated in Jordan, according to the Israeli daily Yedioth Ahronoth. Channel 12 reported that flight operations at Ramon Airport near Eilat were affected. Israel’s Channel 13 reported that US aerial refueling aircraft had been evacuated from the airport following the attack, without providing further details. READ: Jordan says 3 Iranian missiles intercepted as sirens sound
US strikes Iran again as missiles towards Jordan deepen regional war risk
US strikes Iran again as missiles towards Jordan deepen regional war risk The US launched fresh strikes on Iranian military and coastal targets after troops were killed in Jordan. Iran's missile fire towards Jordan and threats around Hormuz have raised fears of a wider regional war. The United States carried out more airstrikes on Iran on Sunday in response to the killing of US troops, while Iran fired missiles towards Jordan in a move that risked widening the conflict into neighbouring Israel. The two sides have moved closer to all-out war as last month’s interim deal to permanently end the fighting has broken down and shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has largely stalled. The latest escalation came as both sides continued to target civilian infrastructure used by millions of people. The US military said its new strikes were aimed at Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard in retaliation for Friday’s killing of troops in Jordan. In the campaign’s second week, the US has struck bridges, water desalination plants and electrical facilities in Iran, while Tehran has attacked US-allied countries across the Middle East. Kuwait, Jordan and Bahrain again activated air defences against incoming Iranian drones and missiles, and Israel warned that missiles launched towards Jordan could spill over into its territory for the first time in weeks. The US military’s Central Command said it struck “Iranian military coastal surveillance and air defence facilities, maritime capabilities and missile and drone storage sites”. It said the operation was meant to reduce Iran’s ability to control the strait and “swiftly punish Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps forces”, which control Iran’s ballistic missile arsenal. Footage released by the US military appeared to show strikes by fighter jets and Tomahawk cruise missiles launched from the sea. One site appeared to be in a mountain valley, where the Guard often places missile bases and other military equipment. Iran’s atomic energy agency said US strikes hit the construction site of a planned nuclear power plant in the south-west, according to state television. Satellite images from Planet Labs PBC of the Darkhovin nuclear plant site showed earth clearing but little construction as of July 9. Iran had not previously said the site was targeted. The International Atomic Energy Agency said the site, in the “very early stages of construction”, contained no nuclear material when the UN watchdog last visited. Jordan’s military said it shot down several Iranian missiles and that there were no casualties or damage. Jordan hosts major US bases and depends on US air defence systems. Israel’s military said Iranian missiles launched towards the Jordanian port city of Aqaba, just across the border, could spill over into Israel, and warned residents to expect the first air-raid sirens in weeks. In Eilat, which borders Aqaba, city authorities cited security officials as saying two interceptors were launched from its outskirts to prevent debris from falling. Kuwait said one of its power and water desalination plants was attacked for the second time in two days, causing fires, though its Ministry of Electricity, Water and Renewable Energy said the power grid remained stable. About 90 per cent of Kuwait’s drinking water comes from desalination. Gulf Cooperation Council Secretary-General Jasem Mohamed al-Budaiwi accused Iran of “war crimes” over strikes on infrastructure and civilian facilities. International humanitarian law generally protects civilian infrastructure such as bridges and power plants, though such sites can lose that protection if they are used for military purposes. In those cases, attacks must be proportionate and minimise civilian harm. The Strait of Hormuz remained central to the conflict. US President Donald Trump has threatened to hit Iran’s power stations and bridges in an effort to force Tehran to loosen its hold on the strait, through which one-fifth of global oil supplies passed before the war. Recent attacks suggest the US military is carrying out that plan. The US last week reimposed a naval blockade on Iranian ports to stop crude oil shipments, and the military said on Saturday that it had redirected five ships and disabled one since then. A maritime organisation overseen by the US Navy said on Sunday that the threat to mariners was severe after earlier Iranian attacks, with “deliberate hostile action considered highly likely”. It said traffic remained low, with eight transits on Saturday and three on Friday, against a daily average of almost 140 before the war. Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei said on Saturday that the US would face “unforgettable lessons” if it kept attacking the Islamic Republic. An Iranian negotiator said Tehran was suspending its commitments under the interim deal and accused Washington of violating it. More than half of the 60-day period set under the deal to negotiate a permanent end to the war, along with other issues including Iran’s nuclear programme, has now passed. Since the war began, 16 US service members have been killed and more than 430 wounded. Iranian authorities said on Sunday that at least 50 people were killed and 517 wounded in the latest US strikes, though Iran has not given overall figures for its material losses. Far beyond the region, the war has also pushed up fuel and other prices, hitting some of the world’s most vulnerable areas hard. Sunday’s developments underlined how the fighting has deepened, with fresh strikes, regional missile threats and mounting pressure on shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. With PTI Inputs
US braces for Iran escalation, sends additional refuelers to Middle East | The Jerusalem Post
Dozens of American refueling aircraft will be deployed across IDF bases and the Ramon Airport in southern Israel, another security official, who is familiar with the details of the talks with the US Defense Department, said on Sunday. Coordination between the IDF and US military will naturally tighten, “with the goal of shortening the time it takes to move from routine to emergency readiness,” as the hours pass and more American forces arrive in the Middle East, another senior security official said. If the Americans intensify the strikes and expand the operational posture against Iran in a way that would require the transfer of an additional force package of refueling aircraft, they may land at Ben-Gurion Airport despite the agreement reached so far between the two nations. Meanwhile, an Israel Air Force source told Walla on Sunday that 14 American military refueling aircraft arrived in Israel over the weekend against the backdrop of the escalation in the war with Iran. As part of the buildup of American forces in the Middle East and Israel, the US military is redeploying F-35 aircraft from Britain and F-15 aircraft from Germany, including aircraft specialized in suppressing enemy air defenses and radars. US operating over 20 warships, hundreds of aircraft to maintain naval blockade The move is intended to “blind” the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), which has been working around the clock to recover its decimated abilities, including accelerating the renewal of production lines for surface-to-air and surface-to-surface missiles. This is in addition to dozens of aerial refueling aircraft that support long operations against and over Iran. It should be noted that, in order to enforce its naval blockade on Iranian ports and beaches, including the Strait of Hormuz, CENTCOM is operating more than 20 US Navy warships, along with hundreds of aircraft that are already dispersed among different bases across the Middle East. Meanwhile, the US military and US Department of Defense are keeping the location of US special forces completely opaque, since their operations are defined as “highly secret.”
Iran hits US allies as Israel warns missiles headed for Jordan could land on its territory
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates - The U.S. military launched airstrikes Sunday targeting Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard to retaliate for the killing of American troops in Jordan, further widening the exchange of fire between them as an interim deal seeking an end to their war has collapsed. The strikes are part of a weeklong campaign that began with a struggle over control of the Strait of Hormuz and has seen Iran strike U.S.-allied countries across the Middle East. ALSO READ | US renews strikes on Iran after two military personnel killed by Iranian attack The U.S. has targeted bridges, electrical facilities and other targets in Iran, and Tehran has retaliated by hitting power and desalination plants in Kuwait, threatening daily life in that small, oil-rich desert nation. Kuwait, Jordan and Bahrain again activated air defenses Sunday morning as they warned of incoming Iranian drones and missiles. Israel warned Iran missiles launched toward neighboring Jordan could cause fire to spill over into its territory for the first time since fighting reignited. ALSO READ | Israel to receive more US refuelling planes as Iran attacks intensify, Israeli officials say The latest US strikes come after troops were killed The U.S. military's Central Command in its statement also said it hit "Iranian military coastal surveillance and air defense facilities, maritime capabilities and missile and drone storage sites." It said the attack was designed to degrade Iran's ability to control the Strait of Hormuz and "swiftly punish Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps forces," a key power base in Iran's theocracy that controls its ballistic missile arsenal. Footage released by the U.S. military appeared to show strikes carried out by fighter jets and by Tomahawk cruise missiles launched from the sea. One target site appeared to be in a valley of a mountainous region. The Guard often has missile bases and other military equipment tucked into mountain ranges. An Iranian attack on a base in Jordan killed two American service members, left one missing and four requiring hospitalization, the U.S. military said on Saturday. Since the war began, 16 U.S. service members have been killed and over 430 wounded. Iranian authorities said on Sunday that at least 50 people have been killed and 517 wounded in the latest U.S. strikes. Iran has provided no overall information on its materiel losses in the American campaign, which is now in its eighth day as the nations vie over control of the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow mouth of the Persian Gulf through which a fifth of all oil and natural gas traded passes in peacetime. Iran's atomic energy agency said that U.S. strikes early on Sunday morning targeted a construction site of a planned nuclear power plant in southwest Iran, according to Iranian state television. Satellite images from Planet Labs PBC of the planned site of the Darkhovin Nuclear Power Plant show earth clearing but very little construction having taken place there as of July 9. There is no radiological material known to be at the site, which Iran had not previously announced as targeted throughout the war. Jordan and nearly every Gulf Arab state has been targeted by Iran for retaliatory strikes The United States' regional allies activated their air defenses or reported incoming Iranian attacks on Sunday as the reignited conflict spilled further across the region. Israel said on Sunday that Iran has launched missiles toward neighboring Jordan, warning people to expect the first air raid sirens in weeks. It said Iran launched missiles toward the nearby Jordanian port city of Aqaba. Israel, which joined the United States in launching the war with airstrikes on Iran on Feb. 28, has refrained from reentering the renewed fighting. Iran has focused its attacks on U.S.-allied Arab states in the Gulf as well as Jordan. But an Iranian strike on Israeli territory could risk widening the conflict once again. Kuwait said on Sunday that one of the country's power and water desalination plants was attacked for the second time in two days, causing fires. Its Ministry of Electricity, Water and Renewable Energy said that the power grid remains stable, yet the attack marked the latest instance in which strikes - by both the United States and Iran - have targeted civilian infrastructure relied on by millions of people. In Kuwait, about 90% of drinking water comes from desalination. The secretary-general of the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council, Jasem Mohamed al-Budaiwi, accused Iran of war crimes for strikes on infrastructure and civilian facilities. International humanitarian law generally protects civilian infrastructure, such as bridges and power plants, from attack, but such sites can lose these protections if used for military purposes. In such cases, attacks must be proportionate and minimize harm to civilians. Campaign comes as the Strait of Hormuz remains key to the conflict Trump has threatened to target Iran's power stations and bridges to try to compel Tehran to loosen its hold on the Strait of Hormuz. Recent attacks suggest the U.S. military is carrying out that plan, beginning first with coastal areas of Iran on the strait. The U.S. in the past week also reimposed a naval blockade on Iranian ports to halt its shipments of crude oil, and the military on Saturday said it had redirected five ships and disabled one since then. Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, in a statement Saturday, warned of "unforgettable lessons" if the U.S. keeps attacking the Islamic Republic. An Iranian negotiator said Tehran was suspending its commitments to the interim deal signed about a month ago and aimed at permanently ending the fighting. Iran's joint military command said that U.S. "covetousness, bullying, totalitarianism or brutality" would meet with a "devastating response." (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel) The strikes are part of a weeklong campaign that began with a struggle over control of the Strait of Hormuz and has seen Iran strike U.S.-allied countries across the Middle East. ALSO READ | US renews strikes on Iran after two military personnel killed by Iranian attack The U.S. has targeted bridges, electrical facilities and other targets in Iran, and Tehran has retaliated by hitting power and desalination plants in Kuwait, threatening daily life in that small, oil-rich desert nation. Kuwait, Jordan and Bahrain again activated air defenses Sunday morning as they warned of incoming Iranian drones and missiles. Israel warned Iran missiles launched toward neighboring Jordan could cause fire to spill over into its territory for the first time since fighting reignited. ALSO READ | Israel to receive more US refuelling planes as Iran attacks intensify, Israeli officials say The latest US strikes come after troops were killed The U.S. military's Central Command in its statement also said it hit "Iranian military coastal surveillance and air defense facilities, maritime capabilities and missile and drone storage sites." It said the attack was designed to degrade Iran's ability to control the Strait of Hormuz and "swiftly punish Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps forces," a key power base in Iran's theocracy that controls its ballistic missile arsenal. Footage released by the U.S. military appeared to show strikes carried out by fighter jets and by Tomahawk cruise missiles launched from the sea. One target site appeared to be in a valley of a mountainous region. The Guard often has missile bases and other military equipment tucked into mountain ranges. An Iranian attack on a base in Jordan killed two American service members, left one missing and four requiring hospitalization, the U.S. military said on Saturday. Since the war began, 16 U.S. service members have been killed and over 430 wounded. Iranian authorities said on Sunday that at least 50 people have been killed and 517 wounded in the latest U.S. strikes. Iran has provided no overall information on its materiel losses in the American campaign, which is now in its eighth day as the nations vie over control of the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow mouth of the Persian Gulf through which a fifth of all oil and natural gas traded passes in peacetime. Iran's atomic energy agency said that U.S. strikes early on Sunday morning targeted a construction site of a planned nuclear power plant in southwest Iran, according to Iranian state television. Satellite images from Planet Labs PBC of the planned site of the Darkhovin Nuclear Power Plant show earth clearing but very little construction having taken place there as of July 9. There is no radiological material known to be at the site, which Iran had not previously announced as targeted throughout the war. Jordan and nearly every Gulf Arab state has been targeted by Iran for retaliatory strikes The United States' regional allies activated their air defenses or reported incoming Iranian attacks on Sunday as the reignited conflict spilled further across the region. Israel said on Sunday that Iran has launched missiles toward neighboring Jordan, warning people to expect the first air raid sirens in weeks. It said Iran launched missiles toward the nearby Jordanian port city of Aqaba. Israel, which joined the United States in launching the war with airstrikes on Iran on Feb. 28, has refrained from reentering the renewed fighting. Iran has focused its attacks on U.S.-allied Arab states in the Gulf as well as Jordan. But an Iranian strike on Israeli territory could risk widening the conflict once again. Kuwait said on Sunday that one of the country's power and water desalination plants was attacked for the second time in two days, causing fires. Its Ministry of Electricity, Water and Renewable Energy said that the power grid remains stable, yet the attack marked the latest instance in which strikes - by both the United States and Iran - have targeted civilian infrastructure relied on by millions of people. In Kuwait, about 90% of drinking water comes from desalination. The secretary-general of the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council, Jasem Mohamed al-Budaiwi, accused Iran of war crimes for strikes on infrastructure and civilian facilities. International humanitarian law generally protects civilian infrastructure, such as bridges and power plants, from attack, but such sites can lose these protections if used for military purposes. In such cases, attacks must be proportionate and minimize harm to civilians. Campaign comes as the Strait of Hormuz remains key to the conflict Trump has threatened to target Iran's power stations and bridges to try to compel Tehran to loosen its hold on the Strait of Hormuz. Recent attacks suggest the U.S. military is carrying out that plan, beginning first with coastal areas of Iran on the strait. The U.S. in the past week also reimposed a naval blockade on Iranian ports to halt its shipments of crude oil, and the military on Saturday said it had redirected five ships and disabled one since then. Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, in a statement Saturday, warned of "unforgettable lessons" if the U.S. keeps attacking the Islamic Republic. An Iranian negotiator said Tehran was suspending its commitments to the interim deal signed about a month ago and aimed at permanently ending the fighting. Iran's joint military command said that U.S. "covetousness, bullying, totalitarianism or brutality" would meet with a "devastating response." (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel) (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel) Prime ExclusivesInvestment IdeasStock Report PlusePaperWealth Edition
US-Iran Tit-For-Tat Spirals Towards Broader Conflict
US-Iran Tit-For-Tat Spirals Towards Broader Conflict The escalation pathway in the renewed tit-for-tat conflict between the US and Iran is becoming increasingly alarming and has been underway for eight days. US forces reportedly struck Qeshm Island and the southern Iranian cities of Shadegan, Sirik and Hajiabad, while Tehran retaliated with drone and missile attacks targeting US bases and critical infrastructure across Kuwait, Qatar and Bahrain, according to Bloomberg, citing Iranian state media. The latest escalation could open the door for Israel to rejoin the fight. Itamar Ben Gvir, an Israeli security cabinet minister, told listeners on Israeli radio that he hoped President Trump would strike Iran hard. Iran's latest attacks moved beyond military targets to now civilian infrastructure, which has been troubling. Kuwaiti Ministry of Electricity warned earlier today that its power and desalination plants have come under attack for the second straight day by Iranian projectiles. BREAKING: Kuwait says power and water desalination plant attacked for second time in two days 🔴 LIVE updates: https://t.co/jKP76o4RPX pic.twitter.com/5IoegG3wJv — Al Jazeera Breaking News (@AJENews) July 19, 2026 US Central Command described the latest US strikes as seeking to reduce Tehran's offensive capabilities on the Strait of Hormuz that threaten commercial shipping and "swiftly punish" Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps forces behind the Jordan attack that killed two US soldiers and left another missing in action. U.S. forces pound Iran for the eighth straight night as CENTCOM releases new footage following Iranian missile and drone attacks on a U.S. base in Jordan that killed two U.S. service members. A third remains missing. CENTCOM says forces "successfully hit Iranian military coastal… pic.twitter.com/0jc8TZBzdo — Fox News (@FoxNews) July 19, 2026 By now, the interim ceasefire deal signed by the US and Iran is in flames, as US forces have renewed their blockade of Iranian ports and the Trump team has tightened sanctions on Tehran's oil exports An overnight report from AFP News stated: Iran says nuclear plant being built attacked. Iran's Atomic Energy Organization said the United States attacked an under-construction nuclear power plant in Darkhovin, in the country's southwest. Previous days US-Iran Wrap: State Department Issues "Worldwide Caution" As US-Iran Tit-For-Tat Spirals Into Regional Crisis Polymarket: Will the US announce withdrawal from MOU negotiations by July 31? Latest overnight headlines (courtesy of Bloomberg): US-Iran Military Tit-For-Tat Escalation Two US service members were killed and another went missing in action during Iranian ballistic missile and drone attacks in Jordan on Friday; four others were evacuated to Jordanian hospitals. The US launched fresh strikes on Iran overnight Saturday, hitting Qeshm Island in the Persian Gulf and southern cities including Shadegan, Sirik and Hajiabad, according to Iranian media. Iran suspended its commitments under the interim deal with the US as both sides continued exchanging strikes on infrastructure and military targets. Bahrain said it intercepted several Iranian aerial attacks on Sunday. Jordan evacuated Aqaba's airport and seaport due to a specific and credible threat, with the US embassy advising Americans to avoid both locations. Hormuz Chokepoint Tensions Iran's Revolutionary Guards said four vessels attempted to transit the Strait of Hormuz via an unauthorized route; two were stopped after accidents and two turned back. Iran accused the ships of attempting to disrupt transit through the strait with "support from American terrorists" and said they had turned off their navigation systems. Iran rushed out approximately $6 billion of oil during a brief truce with the US in mid-June to mid-July, with around 20 Iranian tankers arriving off Malaysia's east coast, with China as the likely ultimate destination, according to analysts, per the Wall Street Journal. Regional Impact & Kuwait Strikes Crisis Kuwait suffered some of its worst Iranian retaliatory attacks, with strikes on a vital oil facility causing significant damage and injuries, and a second power plant hit in as many days. Kuwait airport suspended flights and Kuwait Airways rescheduled the majority of its flights following the attacks. Iraq is using a large fleet of trucks to carry fuel through Syria to bypass the Strait of Hormuz, rapidly making Syria the Middle East's top export hub, accounting for more than a quarter of regional volumes. Oil Market Woes Renewed fighting is raising the risk of an oil price spike as global supply buffers have been worn thin, with emergency stockpile releases and reduced Chinese imports having previously helped avert a crisis when the Strait of Hormuz first closed in March. Concerns over re-escalation of the war pushed oil prices sharply higher following Iran's heavy attacks on Kuwait. Ahead of US futures opening later today, IG's Weekend Oil and US Crude are up about 2%. The IG oil market is a weekend CFD market that lets traders speculate on where WTI crude will reopen when regular futures trading resumes Sunday evening. On Friday, Brent crude futures jumped 4% to nearly $88 a barrel, putting the crude oil on track for its biggest weekly gain since April. A must-read this weekend as Hormuz normalization dramatically slows: "We've Burned Through All Buffers": Oil Traders Warn Market Running On Fumes Bloomberg data show transits in the Strait of Hormuz come to a standstill … Continued read: JPM: The Big Question Is No Longer About Hormuz And Oil, It's All About Refining And Russia Professional subscribers can tap our new Marketdesk.ai portal to read the latest on energy and Hormuz. Tyler Durden Sun, 07/19/2026 - 08:45
Trump nuclear deal would let Saudis enrich uranium, CNN reports
US ready to let Saudi Arabia enrich uranium – CNN The US has agreed to allow Saudi Arabia to have its own nuclear program and enrich uranium, CNN has reported, citing draft documents and sources familiar with the negotiations. The draft deal has been negotiated and is awaiting President Donald Trump’s signature, the outlet wrote on Saturday. According to the report, the agreement would not require the enhanced International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) safeguards known as the Additional Protocol, which gives inspectors broader access to nuclear facilities and is designed to help detect undeclared nuclear activities. The reported deal would give the Saudis access to the same uranium-enrichment technology that has been at the center of Iran’s decades-long dispute with the West. Washington and Israel have long argued that Tehran’s enrichment program could be used to produce nuclear weapons and cited those concerns when launching strikes on Iran’s nuclear infrastructure earlier this year. Tehran has consistently maintained that its nuclear program is exclusively peaceful and that as a party to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) it has an “inalienable right” to enrich uranium for civilian purposes. Iran provisionally applied the IAEA’ Additional Protocol, allowing inspectors broader access than required under standard safeguards. Saudi Arabia has long sought a nuclear industry, saying it wants to develop domestic uranium resources, diversify its energy mix, free up more crude oil for export, and power industrial and desalination projects. Riyadh has also argued that, as an NPT signatory, it has the same right as other member states to enrich uranium for peaceful purposes. The reported agreement would mark a departure from Washington’s long-standing “gold standard” approach to civilian nuclear cooperation. In 2009, the United Arab Emirates permanently renounced uranium enrichment and plutonium reprocessing in exchange for American nuclear cooperation. The agreement has since been promoted by successive US administrations as a model for nuclear partnerships in the Middle East. Arms-control experts cited by CNN warned that allowing Saudi Arabia to pursue enrichment could weaken the “gold standard” and encourage other countries in the region to seek similar rights. They also argued that domestic enrichment gives a country a latent weapons capability, since the same centrifuge technology used to produce reactor fuel can also produce weapons-grade uranium if enrichment continues to higher levels.