Iran War: Bessent: USA will economically isolate Iran and continue Hormuz blockade

In the midst of a 60-day ceasefire between the USA and Iran, the Hormuz Strait remains tense, with two state-owned Emirati oil tankers attacked in the strait. No casualties were reported in the attack. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) strongly condemned the aggression, blaming Iran and stating that it violated UN Security Council Resolution 2817, which affirms the freedom of navigation.

Iran claims it is working to remove an oil slick near Keschm Island in Hormuz Strait. Iran's spokesperson, Ismail Baghai, stated that Iran should be compensated for its measures to mitigate environmental damage. Images from Iran's semi-official news agency, Isna, show oil spills on Keschm Island's beaches. Iran has not commented on how the oil spill occurred, but TankerTrackers.com published satellite images on X, suggesting that the cause was an Iranian attack on a bulk carrier near Oman.

The oil then flowed into Hormuz Strait towards Iran. Baghai asked on X who should compensate for the damages, suggesting it could be countries benefiting from cheap energy exported from the region, ship insurers, or the aggressors and their partners turning the Persian Gulf and the Arabian Sea into a battlefield for military operations and testing highly destructive weapons.

Oman is currently dealing with another oil spill in the Arabian Sea caused by a tanker that ran aground far from Hormuz Strait. As of now, no one has claimed responsibility for the explosion, and the cause of the reported blast has not been disclosed. Environmental experts note that oil has spread from the partially sunk tanker near an island and endangered a marine protected area.

In several Yemeni provinces, dozens of Houthi fighters have been killed or wounded in government airstrikes targeting Houthi positions in various fronts. Yemeni Deputy Information Minister Fajjad al-Numan told Deutsche Presse-Agentur that government forces carried out "intensive artillery and drone attacks" on Houthi strongholds in multiple fronts, hitting reinforcement and Houthi positions west of Katabah district in Dhale province.

Drones from Tais military command also targeted various military equipment in Houthi defenses in Dhale province. In Marib and Al-Jawf provinces, government forces conducted extensive attacks along frontline positions with Houthi rebels, resulting in dozens of casualties among Houthi fighters. Artillery attacks on Houthi assemblies were also conducted along the western coast, leading to numerous deaths and injuries.

The Israeli army has targeted an Islamist Hamas commander in northern Gaza Strip, according to its own reports. Palestinian media reported that at least one Palestinian was killed in Beit Lahia. Israeli army claims the man planned "terror attacks on Israeli troops operating in Gaza Strip." However, these claims could not be independently verified.