United News of Bangladesh

The United Arab Emirates suspended all trade with Iran on Wednesday after accusing Tehran of launching renewed missile attacks, adding to the economic pressure on Iran as it faces US sanctions and a blockade. The UAE issued nationwide warnings on Tuesday night asking residents to take shelter after two ballistic missiles were fired toward the country. It was the first such warning in several weeks. The UAE had faced frequent Iranian missile attacks earlier in the conflict, causing trade between the two countries to largely stop. Some maritime trade resumed in late June as fighting eased, according to Iran's state-run IRNA news agency, though the current level of trade was unclear. UAE accuses Iran of missile attacks The UAE Foreign Ministry said two ballistic missiles were fired toward the country on Tuesday and later fell into the Persian Gulf. The ministry said it remained committed to dialogue and regional cooperation but had decided to suspend economic ties with Iran. "All trade, commercial exchanges and financial transactions with Iran have been halted until further notice," it said, citing growing regional tensions. The UAE Defense Ministry said its assessment showed that the missiles were aimed at maritime traffic. It was not immediately clear whether Emirati vessels or UAE territorial waters were directly targeted. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei denied that Tehran had launched missiles toward the UAE. Attacks on ships increase tensions Iran has repeatedly targeted vessels using the Strait of Hormuz as part of its efforts to control the key waterway. Four tankers owned by Abu Dhabi's state oil company ADNOC have been attacked over the past two weeks. The attacks caused no injuries but drew strong condemnation from the UAE and other Gulf countries, including Kuwait and Bahrain. Nearly 20 ADNOC vessels have been attacked by Iranian missiles and drones in the Strait of Hormuz since the conflict began, killing one person and injuring about 20 others. The strait is a major strategic point for Iran because about one-fifth of the world's traded oil and natural gas passed through it before the war. The United States and Israel launched the conflict on Feb 28, with their stated objectives including weakening Tehran's government and ending its nuclear programme. However, the fighting has increasingly focused on control of the Strait of Hormuz. Iran has fired hundreds of ballistic missiles and thousands of drones during the conflict. Tehran says many of the attacks targeted US assets, but some struck buildings and key infrastructure in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, including Dubai's airport, ports and energy facilities. Iran has accused the UAE and other US allies in the Gulf of helping American military operations against Iran. Iranian Chief of Staff Gen Ali Abdollahi issued a fresh warning Wednesday to countries along the southern coast of the Persian Gulf. He said any assistance given to the US military would amount to taking part in American military operations, according to Iran's semiofficial Fars news agency. Trade suspension could increase pressure on Iran The UAE was one of Iran's largest trading partners before the war. According to the World Trade Organization's latest 2024 figures, the UAE accounted for more than 30% of Iran's imports, worth about $21 billion, and received nearly 13% of Iran's exports, valued at around $7 billion. The UAE's decision comes as the United States prepares to impose further economic pressure on Iran. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said last week that the measures would combine economic isolation with the ongoing American blockade of Iranian ports. The latest economic pressure follows heavy US and Israeli airstrikes on Iranian military, industrial and civilian infrastructure. Iran's economy is already under severe strain. The International Monetary Fund expects inflation to reach nearly 70% this year and the economy to shrink by 5.4%. Iran's rial has also fallen to record lows.

Iran said Saturday that Qatar is holding three of its pilots who went missing after their aircraft were shot down in March, a claim Doha rejected, as Israeli airstrikes in southern Lebanon killed at least 11 people amid rising tensions across the Middle East. Iran’s Missing Persons Committee of the Armed Forces General Staff said Qatar’s military captured the three pilots after their jets were downed. Tehran had previously said it had no information about the pilots’ fate. Iran also alleged that Qatar had prevented the pilots from meeting or communicating with their families and Iranian officials. It appealed to the president of the International Committee of the Red Cross for assistance. Qatar denied the allegation. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Majed Al Ansari said the pilots’ aircraft had been shot down and that Qatari search teams had recovered the remains of one of them. He said Iran had been invited in April to inspect the search efforts but did not respond. Iran said a fourth pilot was killed during a mission targeting a military base in Qatar, according to Iranian state media. Meanwhile, an oil tanker operated by Abu Dhabi’s state-owned oil and gas company ADNOC was attacked while passing through the Strait of Hormuz, the UAE’s state-run WAM news agency reported. No one was injured in Friday evening’s incident, which the UAE described as the third attack on an ADNOC-operated vessel in the strategic waterway within a week. The United Arab Emirates called on Iran to halt what it described as unprovoked attacks. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations centre separately reported that a bulk carrier was hit in its hull by an unidentified projectile on Friday. It was not immediately clear whether it was the same vessel. The Strait of Hormuz, through which about one-fifth of the world’s traded oil and natural gas passed before the latest conflict, has remained a major flashpoint since the war began with US and Israeli strikes on Iran on Feb. 28. Meanwhile, Israeli airstrikes in southern Lebanon killed at least 11 people on Saturday, among the deadliest attacks since a fragile truce between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah took effect on June 20. Lebanon’s Health Ministry and state news agency said an Israeli strike on a house near Ansar killed seven people, including three children, and wounded two others. Another strike in Deir al-Zahrani killed four people and injured 17. The Israeli military said it killed a Hezbollah battalion commander and several other militants at a command centre in southern Lebanon, saying the strike was carried out in response to Hezbollah activity against Israeli troops. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said three Israeli soldiers were seriously wounded and blamed an explosive drone. The Israeli military said the commander’s family was present at the site but was not the intended target, while Israeli authorities accused him of using family members as human shields. The strikes came amid a framework agreement between Lebanon and Israel aimed at paving the way for an Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon in return for Hezbollah’s disarmament. Hezbollah has rejected direct negotiations and was not part of the agreement. In Yemen, Iran-backed Houthi rebels attacked the government-controlled Red Sea port of Mokha, killing at least three people, including two marines, Yemeni authorities said. Port director Abdul-Malik al-Sharabi said Friday evening’s attack also forced the suspension of port operations. Yemeni military spokesperson Col. Majed al-Nazili said the Houthis fired six ballistic missiles at the port. The attack was the latest escalation by the Houthis against government-held areas and neighbouring Saudi Arabia, raising concerns that the conflict could push Yemen back into a wider civil war. Analysts say the escalation is part of Iran’s broader effort to increase pressure on the United States and its regional allies.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Tuesday said Tehran is ready to expand and deepen cooperation with Pakistan in various fields. He made the remarks during a meeting with visiting Pakistani Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, highlighting the “excellent relations and deep bonds” between the two countries, according to a statement on the Iranian president’s official website. Pezeshkian said Iran and Pakistan share strong historical, cultural and people-to-people ties. He also welcomed Pakistani officials’ efforts to strengthen solidarity and relations with Iran. The Iranian president said Tehran is willing to further expand ties with Pakistan in areas of mutual interest and create opportunities for joint cooperation. He added that stronger bilateral ties and closer cooperation would help protect the interests of both countries and contribute to regional peace, stability and security. Naqvi said his visit to Tehran was aimed at following up on agreements reached during a recent visit to Pakistan by Iranian Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni. Describing Pakistan-Iran ties as “strong, age-old and unbreakable,” Naqvi said Islamabad is committed to further expanding relations with Tehran. The Pakistani minister arrived in Tehran earlier Tuesday and was received by his Iranian counterpart. Later, he met Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi and discussed diplomatic and bilateral issues, Iran’s official news agency IRNA reported. In recent months, Pakistan has played a mediating role between Iran and the United States, helping the two sides exchange messages and pursue peace efforts. With Islamabad’s mediation, Tehran and Washington signed a memorandum of understanding in June aimed at ending their conflict.

Iran's leaders believe they can eventually force the United States to accept their control over the Strait of Hormuz, a key global energy route, and see time as working in their favour. Iranian officials are aware of growing pressure on the United States, including limited supplies of some advanced missile interceptors, public opposition to the war and rising fuel and other prices ahead of the November congressional elections. They also believe reopening the strait by force could be costly for the US and potentially require ground troops. Iran's allies, including the Houthis in Yemen, could further expand the conflict and disrupt another major international trade route. From Tehran's perspective, these factors could eventually leave US President Donald Trump with little choice but to make concessions. But the strategy carries significant risks for Iran as well. Trump has highlighted US strikes that have severely weakened Iran's top leadership, navy and air force. At the same time, he has alternated between threatening further escalation and saying negotiations are progressing. Iran's economy has also suffered heavily, partly because of a US blockade. The country has faced mass protests in recent months, raising concerns that further economic pressure could fuel renewed unrest. Possible deal could give Iran major leverageIran says it is close to reaching an agreement with Oman on managing the Strait of Hormuz, which lies between the two countries. However, the proposed arrangement would depend on the US lifting its blockade. That means Trump would ultimately have to approve it even if, as Iran says, Washington is not directly involved in negotiations. It remains unclear whether Iran would be allowed to charge fees under the arrangement. But any deal that formally recognises an Iranian role in managing the strait would represent a major shift from its previous status as an open international waterway. The strait carries about one-fifth of the world's traded oil and gas. Abdolreza Davari, an analyst and former adviser to President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, said Iran was seeking more than financial benefits from the waterway. "More than revenue from the strait, Iran wants to confirm its management and sovereignty over the strait," he said. Formal Iranian control over even part of the waterway would be seen as a significant victory for Tehran and a setback for Washington, which has yet to achieve some of its changing objectives in the conflict. It could also raise concerns about international freedom of navigation and create a precedent for countries to disrupt major global trade routes. China, a major buyer of Iranian oil, said as recently as May that normal and safe passage through the strait should be restored. Tehran believes it has the advantageIranian officials argue that the country has greater leverage as the conflict continues. Mahdi Mohammadi, an adviser to Iran's chief negotiator, said on social media that Iran was seeking the defeat of its adversary rather than simply an agreement. Iran has repeatedly said the Strait of Hormuz will not return to its previous status as an open waterway and has threatened to continue attacking ships that attempt to pass without its permission. Iran's joint military command has described the issue as an "unbreakable red line." Tehran-based security analyst Mostafa Najafi said Iran now views control of the strait as a major tool for deterrence, maintaining the regional balance of power and changing security arrangements in the Persian Gulf. The dispute also complicates efforts to resolve the long-running issue of Iran's nuclear programme. Analyst Rahman Ghahremanpour said the conflict over the strait had pushed the nuclear issue into the background, which he said could benefit Iran. Control of the waterway could also provide Tehran with additional leverage if nuclear negotiations resume. Economic pressure poses a major riskThe war has caused widespread economic damage, with Iran among the countries suffering the most. US and Israeli strikes have damaged Iran's industrial infrastructure, while the US blockade has sharply reduced its oil exports. Food prices have also surged, putting additional pressure on ordinary people. Trump has repeatedly threatened further strikes on civilian infrastructure, including water and electricity facilities. A currency crisis in December triggered some of the largest anti-government protests in the Islamic Republic's history. Authorities responded with a crackdown in which thousands were reportedly killed and tens of thousands detained. Some Iranian officials and supporters of moderate President Masoud Pezeshkian fear the government could face renewed unrest if the economic situation deteriorates further. Former Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, who helped negotiate the 2015 nuclear agreement, recently said the country's wartime gains had created an opportunity for diplomacy. However, he warned that delaying an agreement could make economic recovery difficult and increase the risk of domestic unrest or renewed conflict, particularly after the US elections. War has not gone as expectedThe conflict has already produced several unexpected developments. After US and Israeli airstrikes on Feb 28 killed Iran's supreme leader and other senior officials, Trump suggested the war could end within weeks. Instead, the conflict has strengthened Iran's leadership and rallied its supporters, analysts say. Ghahremanpour said Tehran was using the Strait of Hormuz to demonstrate that Iran had not been defeated and to strengthen the government's position at home. But he also warned that Iran's ability to withstand the pressure has limits. "Iran cannot continue with this strategy forever, and at a certain point, in reality, it has to reach a deal with America," he said. Davari, however, said Iran was likely to continue resisting pressure for now, despite its severe economic difficulties.

Jordanian air defenses intercepted five missiles launched from Iran early Thursday, the state-run Petra news agency reported, hours after the US military said it had carried out a major new wave of strikes against Iran. No casualties were reported in Jordan following the missile interceptions, Petra quoted a spokesman for the Jordanian armed forces as saying. The US Central Command said in a social media post that American forces had spent more than two hours striking “dozens” of targets linked to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. The targets included military command centers, missile and drone facilities, and coastal surveillance and defense sites, according to the command. The strikes came hours after US President Donald Trump vowed to hit Iran “very hard” after Iranian forces targeted a US military base in Jordan. Iranian state media reported that two people were injured in attacks on Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz. Explosions were also reported in Khuzestan province in southwestern Iran. The latest escalation followed US and Saudi strikes on Iran-backed militias in neighboring Iraq on Wednesday. At least 20 fighters and six Iranian advisers were reportedly killed in those attacks. In another development, drone strikes set fire to two natural gas vessels at Egypt’s port of Damietta, British maritime security company Ambrey said. It was not immediately known who carried out the attacks on a US-owned floating storage facility and a Greek-owned tanker. No injuries were reported. The renewed violence on several fronts after days of relative calm raised fears that the conflict could again escalate into a full-scale war. The developments also highlighted the challenges of ending a five-month conflict that has disrupted the global economy and become increasingly unpopular among Americans. The continued fighting could also increase concerns that the US is using up its already limited stocks of advanced weapons needed to protect its military bases and allies.

Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels said early Thursday they attacked two Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea, while the United States carried out a 12th consecutive night of airstrikes on Iran, further escalating tensions in the region. The latest developments have raised fears of a wider conflict that could further disrupt global shipping and energy supplies, with no signs of progress in diplomatic efforts to ease the crisis. The US Central Command (CENTCOM) said the overnight strikes were aimed at weakening Iran's ability to threaten commercial shipping and civilian vessels in regional waters as Washington seeks to restore safe navigation through the Strait of Hormuz. Earlier on Wednesday, President Donald Trump warned that the US would target one Iranian bridge or power plant every time Iran attacked a ship in the Strait of Hormuz. "From this point forward, any time the Islamic Republic of Iran shoots at a ship in the Strait of Hormuz... the United States will bomb and destroy one bridge or power plant," Trump wrote on social media. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, speaking at a regional summit in the Philippines, said Iran had expressed interest in negotiations but questioned its willingness to honour any agreement. "The problem is making a deal with people who don't keep their commitments," Rubio said. Houthis claim tanker attacksThe Houthi-run SABA news agency said the rebels targeted the Saudi-linked oil tankers Encelia and Layla in the Red Sea, claiming both vessels caught fire. If confirmed, the attacks would be the Houthis' first reported strike on commercial ships since they announced a blockade of Saudi-linked shipping through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait earlier this week. The group said the move was in retaliation for Saudi Arabia's blockade of Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen and a recent attack on Sanaa's international airport. Bab el-Mandeb is one of the world's busiest maritime routes, linking the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden. Around 12% of global trade, including roughly one-quarter of the world's container shipping, passes through the waterway. A senior Houthi official said the blockade would continue until Saudi Arabia lifted its restrictions on Yemen. Saudi Arabia's state news agency confirmed that the tanker Encelia was attacked and caught fire while sailing in the Red Sea, but said there were no casualties. It did not mention the Layla. The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) also reported that a tanker had been struck by an unidentified projectile southwest of Saudi Arabia's Al Shuqaiq area. No casualties were reported. Rubio urged the Houthis to avoid further escalation, saying continued attacks would only worsen the situation. Strait of Hormuz tensions continueThe US air campaign comes as tensions remain high over the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world's most important oil shipping routes. The waterway, through which about one-fifth of globally traded oil and gas normally passes, has been severely disrupted by the conflict. Iran says it has the right to regulate shipping through the strait and has targeted vessels using routes protected by US forces. In response, Washington has tightened its blockade on Iranian ports and expanded military operations across Iran. Trump also indicated this week that US forces could target an Iranian nuclear facility currently under construction. Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf dismissed the US threats, saying conditions in the Strait of Hormuz would not return to how they were before the conflict. Overnight strikes and regional concernsIranian state media reported that US missiles hit areas near Ahvaz, Ramshir and Andimeshk in western Iran overnight. Two people were reportedly killed in a strike near the Iraqi border town of Shalamcheh. Iran has responded to US attacks by targeting energy facilities and desalination plants in neighbouring Gulf countries. Kuwait's military said its air defence systems intercepted hostile drones, while Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi warned that Tehran would respond forcefully to any further attacks. "Any aggression against Iran, including our infrastructure, will receive a strong and decisive response," he wrote on X. Diplomatic efforts remain stalledIranian Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni recently held talks in Pakistan, which has been trying to mediate between the parties, but there has been little indication of any diplomatic breakthrough. Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif strongly condemned the attacks on the Saudi oil tankers. Meanwhile, Iran's Interior Ministry said diplomatic contacts were continuing despite the ongoing fighting. An Arab diplomat, speaking anonymously, said Gulf countries were becoming increasingly pessimistic about the chances of reducing tensions and remained deeply concerned about the latest escalation in the region.

The United States has carried out another wave of military strikes against Iran, with President Donald Trump pledging retaliation following the deaths of three American service members in recent attacks blamed on Tehran. The latest operation marked the 10th consecutive night of US strikes targeting what the military described as Iranian capabilities that could threaten shipping in the strategically important Strait of Hormuz. US Central Command (CENTCOM) said the strikes targeted military command centres, missile and drone launch sites, maritime assets and air defence systems in an effort to further weaken Iran’s offensive capabilities. Trump said Iran had been hit “very hard” during the previous night’s attacks, describing the operation as a response carried out in honour of three US soldiers killed in recent incidents in Jordan and Iraq. Iran, meanwhile, claimed it had retaliated by attacking two oil tankers transiting the Strait of Hormuz and striking US military assets in Bahrain and Kuwait, according to the state-run Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA). Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said the country was now engaged in a “full-scale war” with the United States. Despite the escalating conflict, Iranian officials said indirect diplomatic contacts between Tehran and Washington were continuing through intermediaries, even after the collapse of a ceasefire. CENTCOM said commercial shipping was continuing through the Strait of Hormuz despite the latest military exchanges. Iranian authorities said rescue teams were evacuating the crews of the two damaged oil tankers after the attacks. Separately, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said a tanker in the Strait of Hormuz had reported being struck by an unidentified projectile, forcing its crew to abandon the vessel and take to lifeboats. It was not immediately clear whether the ship was one of the two vessels cited by Iran. The US Department of Defense identified two of the three American service members killed in an Iranian strike on Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan as Private Isabella Gonzales, 19, of Texas, and Lieutenant Tyler James Feehan, 25, of Hawaii. CENTCOM said another service member had initially been reported missing after the attack, with unidentified remains later recovered from the area. Regional tensions also spread beyond the Gulf. Jordan’s military said it intercepted three Iranian missiles after air raid sirens warned of incoming attacks, while Kuwait’s armed forces reported shooting down Iranian drones. Bahrain said Iranian drones targeted its air navigation systems, although authorities said air traffic operations were not disrupted. Iranian media reported that several cities, including Tabriz, Chabahar, Konarak, Bandar Mahshahr and Bandar Imam Khomeini, were hit during overnight US strikes. State media also reported explosions involving two oil tankers attempting to cross the Strait of Hormuz. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed the vessels had been using what it described as an “unsafe and hazardous” southern route through the waterway and said they exploded before coming to a halt. The US military disputed that account, maintaining that its operations were directed at military targets rather than commercial shipping.  Source: BBC  

The United States and Iran stepped up their military campaign across the Middle East on Friday, exchanging attacks on key infrastructure and military sites as tensions over the Strait of Hormuz continued to escalate. The United States broadened its offensive by striking additional bridges, energy facilities, and a surveillance tower at Iran’s strategic Chabahar port. The attacks align with President Donald Trump’s pledge to increase pressure on Tehran over its control of the Strait of Hormuz, a vital global shipping route for oil and gas. Iran responded by launching missile attacks against U.S.-aligned countries, including Qatar and Kuwait. In Kuwait, a missile strike damaged a desalination plant, a critical source of the country’s drinking water, while Qatar reported injuries from falling debris after its air defenses intercepted incoming missiles. After days of escalating exchanges, the conflict remains centered on control of the Strait of Hormuz. An earlier ceasefire has collapsed, leaving little indication that the war—now more than four months old—will end soon. The U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said Friday’s operation marked the seventh consecutive night of strikes targeting Iran’s military infrastructure. According to the military, the attacks struck surveillance facilities, logistics hubs, underground weapons depots, and maritime assets. Iranian officials said recent U.S. airstrikes have killed dozens of civilians and injured hundreds, while the U.S. military acknowledged additional injuries among American service members. Early Saturday, Iran claimed two oil tankers exploded after entering a mined section of the Strait of Hormuz. The country offered no evidence, and CENTCOM rejected the allegation, calling it false. Since the conflict began in late February, Iran has effectively restricted shipping through the strait, pushing global oil prices above $86 a barrel and significantly reducing maritime traffic. Shipping activity has fallen to its lowest level in three weeks, according to international tracking data. In a televised address Thursday, President Trump said U.S. operations were succeeding and predicted the results would soon become evident. Before the war, Washington and Tehran had been negotiating over Iran’s nuclear program, but Trump now faces growing political pressure to end the conflict and avoid a prolonged military engagement. Bridges and Power Infrastructure TargetedIranian state media reported that overnight U.S. airstrikes struck bridges in Hormozgan province, including routes connecting Bandar Abbas—Iran’s largest port—to the country’s interior. The attacks also affected Bandar Khamir along the Strait of Hormuz. Iran’s Energy Ministry acknowledged attacks on electrical infrastructure for the first time, urging residents in southern provinces to conserve electricity during extreme summer temperatures, although officials did not specify the damaged facilities. Authorities said at least 46 people have died and more than 400 have been injured in recent U.S. strikes, including eight fatalities in Friday’s bridge attack. Meanwhile, the Pentagon confirmed 13 additional U.S. service members were wounded this week, bringing total American casualties since the war began to 14 killed and 427 injured. Strategic Port Tower DestroyedFriday’s strikes also brought down a surveillance tower at Iran’s Chabahar port on the Gulf of Oman, an important commercial gateway serving Afghanistan and regional trade. Iranian officials described the structure as part of the port’s commercial operations, while CENTCOM said it supported Iran’s Revolutionary Guard by monitoring commercial shipping and identifying potential maritime targets. Iranian media later reported explosions in several provinces, including Khuzestan, Fars, Yazd, and Hormozgan, though authorities provided few details. Iran Expands Retaliatory AttacksIran broadened its retaliation by firing missiles toward Qatar, Bahrain, and Kuwait. Qatar activated air defenses twice, with one child reportedly injured by falling debris. Kuwait said a missile strike damaged a power and desalination facility, temporarily disrupting a key source of drinking water. Kuwaiti officials also reported Iranian drone attacks on military installations that wounded several personnel. Jordan’s military intercepted three incoming Iranian missiles, while explosions were reported in northern Iraq’s Kurdish region. Local officials said an attack targeting the Iranian Kurdish opposition group Komala killed at least nine people. Separately, British maritime authorities reported that a commercial tanker sustained minor damage while sailing through the Strait of Hormuz near Oman. No injuries were reported, and Iran did not comment on the incident. Strait of Hormuz Remains the Conflict’s FocusIran continues to insist that the Strait of Hormuz falls under its exclusive authority and has argued that ships passing through should pay transit fees, despite the waterway being internationally recognized as open to global navigation. President Trump has repeatedly threatened further attacks on Iranian infrastructure—including bridges and power facilities—to pressure Tehran into loosening its grip on the strait. The United States has also reinstated a naval blockade on Iranian ports in an effort to restrict the country’s oil exports. Although some regional energy exports have shifted to pipelines, analysts say alternative routes cannot fully replace the shipping capacity of the Strait of Hormuz, through which roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil and natural gas trade normally passes. Recent data show vessel traffic through the waterway has dropped to its lowest level in weeks, underscoring the conflict’s growing impact on global energy markets.   

A tanker caught fire early Tuesday after being hit by a projectile while sailing through the Strait of Hormuz off the coast of Oman, according to the British military, in the latest attack on commercial shipping in the strategic waterway. The incident took place in the narrow entrance to the Persian Gulf, a key global shipping route through which about one-fifth of the world's traded oil and natural gas has traditionally passed during peacetime. Iranian state television reported that the liquefied natural gas tanker was attacked after it ignored warnings from Iranian authorities, but it stopped short of officially claiming responsibility. Iran has repeatedly said that only shipping routes approved by Tehran are safe for vessels using the strait. The country has also been suspected of carrying out previous attacks on ships that used an alternative route closer to Oman's coastline. The latest incident comes as the United States is seeking to continue negotiations with Iran aimed at fully reopening the Strait of Hormuz, curbing Tehran's disputed nuclear programme and securing a lasting end to the war that began on Feb. 28. However, earlier attacks in the waterway have triggered U.S. retaliatory strikes, followed by Iranian attacks on Gulf Arab states, raising fears of wider regional conflict. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said the tanker was struck near Limah, Oman, while heading south through the strait toward the Gulf of Oman. According to the agency, the projectile hit the vessel's port side. UKMTO said there was no environmental damage from the attack and that authorities were investigating the incident. Iranian state television, citing unnamed sources, suggested that Iran was behind the strike on what it described as a tanker carrying natural gas from Qatar. However, the Iranian government has not officially claimed responsibility. Last Thursday, Iran's joint military command warned that all oil tankers passing through the Strait of Hormuz must use routes approved by Tehran. It also cautioned that any interference by U.S. forces in the waterway would face a "rapid and decisive reaction." Speaking at the White House on Monday, U.S. President Donald Trump warned Iran to reach an agreement with Washington. "We'd rather make a deal because I don't want to affect 91 million people," Trump said. "We can knock down their bridges in one hour. We can knock out their energy supply." Under an interim agreement, Iran and the United States had agreed to allow ships to pass through the strait without fees for 60 days. However, Tehran later insisted it should control shipping routes and eventually collect transit fees, challenging long-standing international practice. The United States and several Gulf Arab countries have rejected Iran's proposal to charge vessels for using the strait. Earlier efforts by Oman and a United Nations agency to establish an alternative route near Oman's coast also triggered attacks across the Middle East, underscoring tensions in the region. According to shipping data firm Kpler, at least 108 vessels passed through the Strait of Hormuz over the weekend using different routes. Meanwhile, hundreds of thousands of mourners gathered Tuesday near the Jamkaran Mosque south of Qom for funeral ceremonies for Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, according to live footage broadcast by Iranian state television. The mosque holds special religious significance for Shiite Muslims, who believe it was once visited by Muhammad al-Mahdi, the 12th and last Shiite imam, who disappeared in the ninth century and is expected to return one day to establish justice. Images of Khamenei and his son, Iran's new Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, were displayed on banners carried by mourners. Mojtaba Khamenei has not appeared publicly during the multi-day funeral ceremonies and is believed to be in hiding after reportedly being wounded in the airstrike that killed his father. Before the April ceasefire, Israel targeted several senior Iranian leaders during the conflict, in some cases reportedly using their public appearances to identify their locations. Israel has also threatened to target Mojtaba Khamenei. Iranian authorities have closed roads, restricted airspace and suspended normal daily activities during the mourning period, which began on Saturday and will continue until Thursday. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who died at the age of 86, will be buried at the Imam Reza shrine in his birthplace of Mashhad.

Iran is preparing for a dayslong funeral and burial ceremony for its late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, months after he was killed during the war involving Iran, the United States and Israel. The ceremonies, beginning Saturday in Tehran, are expected to draw large crowds as authorities seek to demonstrate public support for the country's leadership. Khamenei, who led Iran for nearly 40 years, was killed on Feb. 28 after the United States and Israel jointly launched military strikes. His funeral was postponed because of the ongoing conflict. The event is seen as a major test for Iran's leadership following months of unrest and a nationwide crackdown on anti-government protests. Officials are expected to encourage government workers, supporters and paramilitary groups to participate in the funeral processions. However, large crowds also raise concerns about possible stampedes, similar to deadly incidents during previous state funerals in Iran. The ceremonies will also take place during a fragile ceasefire and an interim agreement between Iran and the United States, which has reduced tensions enough for senior Iranian officials to appear publicly. It remains unclear whether Iran's new Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, the late leader's son, will attend the ceremonies. He is believed to have been injured in the attack that killed his father and has not appeared in public since. Khamenei's body will lie in state at Tehran's Grand Mosalla on Saturday and Sunday. On Monday, it will be carried through the streets of Tehran before being taken to the holy city of Qom, about 120 kilometers south of the capital, where ceremonies will continue on Tuesday. On Wednesday, the body will be taken to Karbala in neighboring Iraq, home to the shrine of Imam Hussein, an important religious site for Shiite Muslims. The same day also marks the anniversary of the nationwide protests against Khamenei's rule, during which thousands of people were reportedly killed in a security crackdown. The final stop will be Mashhad, Iran's second-largest city, where Khamenei will be buried at the Imam Reza shrine. The shrine, dedicated to Imam Reza, the eighth imam in Shiite Islam, is one of the religion's holiest sites and attracts millions of pilgrims every year. Several prominent Shiite clerics, including former Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, who died in a helicopter crash in 2024, are also buried there. Authorities are taking precautions to avoid a repeat of deadly crowd crushes seen at previous high-profile funerals. During the funeral of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, founder of the Islamic Republic, in 1989, millions gathered in Tehran. The crowd overwhelmed security, causing Khomeini's coffin to fall into the crowd. Reports at the time said at least eight people were killed and around 11,000 were injured. A similar tragedy occurred during the funeral of Revolutionary Guard General Qassem Soleimani in 2020, when a stampede killed at least 56 people and injured more than 2,000. Meanwhile, efforts to reach a permanent agreement to end the Iran war continue. An interim deal reached in June opened a 60-day period for negotiations covering Iran's nuclear programme and the future of the Strait of Hormuz. Technical-level talks began in Qatar this week, but progress has been slowed by major differences between the two sides and renewed exchanges of fire involving Iran and the United States over the strategic waterway.