Middle East: Iran vows response to fresh US sanctions

Iran asserts readiness to respond to enhanced US sanctions, as China pledges its cooperation won't be hindered. Pakistan reports advances in negotiations aimed at ending the US-Israeli conflict with Iran. A vessel was disabled in the Strait of Hormuz, marking 68 such incidents since the Iran war commenced. The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), once the US-backed force in Northeast Syria, has been dissolved by its commander, Mazloum Abdi, who announced integration into Syrian state institutions.

Both Iran and Oman discussed a coalition framework for a temporary transit corridor through the Strait of Hormuz and a joint mine-clearing project. The US Treasury Department is intensifying economic sanctions on Iran and countries facilitating oil revenue from Iran. The US Secret Service is investigating a video alleging threats to President Donald Trump's youngest son.

Qatar views US sanctions on Iran as unilateral and seeks diplomatic solutions. The US plans to bring evacuated diplomats back to the Middle East, including missions in Israel, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Jordan, Oman, Iraq, and Kuwait. Traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has dropped drastically, with only two tankers passing on a given day, down from a recent daily average of 14.

An oil tanker was hit by an unknown projectile off Oman's coast, underscoring the heightened danger in the waterway.