Vessels transiting by way of the Gulf of Oman are pictured off the coast of Muscat on July 25, 2026. (Picture by AFP by way of Getty Pictures) /
– | Afp | Getty Pictures
A tanker close to Oman reported being struck in a single day, with one other saying it noticed an explosion close by as Iran warned Washington that the U.S. army’s blockade of the Strait of Hormuz would end result within the closure of key delivery routes.
Individually, Kuwait mentioned its air defenses confronted hostile drone assaults by Iran.
The most recent battle comes amid U.S. media reviews that U.S. President Donald Trump is making ready for a recent spherical of strikes in opposition to Iran as early as this weekend, as hopes of a negotiated finish to the conflict that started on Feb. 28 recede and power costs climb.
The UK Maritime Commerce Operations Centre (UKMTO) — a company backed by the British Navy — mentioned Saturday it acquired a report of a tanker being hit by an “unknown projectile which has brought about injury to the engine room.”
“The tanker isn’t below command and the regional Coast Guard have been knowledgeable. There are not any reported casualties or environmental impression,” UKMTO mentioned of the incident 11 nautical miles northeast of Oman.
One other tanker within the waters off Oman reported “seeing a big splash and explosion in shut proximity to the vessel,” UKMTO mentioned.
A short lived ceasefire following the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the U.S. and Iran on June 17 has successfully damaged down. Neither facet has given means on key sticking factors, together with Iran’s nuclear program and management of delivery by way of the Strait of Hormuz, by way of which a few fifth of the world’s oil provides moved earlier than the conflict broke out.
During the last week, the U.S. accomplished a “heavy wave” of strikes in opposition to Iran, hitting dozens of Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps targets. In retaliation, Iran attacked U.S. army bases in Kuwait and Bahrain.
Egypt mentioned Thursday {that a} drone hit two ships at its Mediterranean port of Damietta, triggering a fireplace. Nobody claimed accountability for the strike, which marks the primary assault on Egyptian soil for the reason that conflict started and one other signal that the battle is increasing.
‘Hitting them very laborious’
The Wall Avenue Journal cited unnamed U.S. officers as saying Friday that Trump has ordered the army to launch a recent assault on Iran that might start as quickly as this weekend. However Trump may name off the deliberate strikes, officers advised the Journal, if there may be progress on the diplomatic entrance.
“We will likely be hitting them very laborious,” The Related Press quoted Trump as saying Friday at a televised cupboard assembly on the Camp David presidential retreat. “And you realize in some unspecified time in the future, they will say, ‘We simply cannot take it anymore.'”
Axios quoted an unnamed U.S. official as saying that Trump is severely contemplating attacking Iranian power targets within the subsequent few days, however hasn’t given remaining orders to take action.
An Iranian official warned that the U.S.’s actions would result in Iran tightening its management over essential maritime passages.
“The continuation of the naval blockade and warmongering by the U.S. regime is not going to solely lock the Strait of Hormuz tighter, however can even shut down different straits and chokepoints,” Iran’s WANA information company quoted Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr, Secretary of Iran’s Supreme Nationwide Safety Council, as saying.
“The value for this will likely be paid by the worldwide economic system, the power market, and American voters,” Zolghadr reportedly mentioned.
The U.S. reimposed a naval blockade on Iranian ships on July 13, stopping its vessels from getting into or leaving its ports.
Latest strikes by Iran-backed Houthi fighters in Yemen and Friday’s drone strike in Egypt have raised fears that the essential Bab el-Mandeb strait on the southern finish of the Pink Sea may develop into a second choke level for Iran to focus on as the 2 sides tussle over the Strait of Hormuz.
On Friday, West Texas Intermediate futures rose greater than 1% to shut at $84.67 per barrel. Brent crude, the worldwide benchmark, additionally gained greater than 1% to settle at $90.12. Costs fell greater than 5% for the week after promoting off Monday on hopes the battle within the Center East would de-escalate.
