Iran and Oman agree on Strait of Hormuz

Iranian officials have denied reports suggesting a plot to assassinate the young son of US President Donald Trump, describing them as lies from a false source. The US Secret Service revealed on Tuesday that they had been shown a video by Iranian state television allegedly depicting an attempted assassination of Barron Trump. However, President Trump stated on Wednesday that he believes Ayatollah Modiabah Chamenei, Iran's Supreme Leader, is "very severely injured" but not dead.

Modjadji Chamenei became the country's Supreme Leader after his father, Ayatollah Ali Chamenei, was killed at the outset of the war. Since then, the younger Chamenei has not been publicly seen. The US has announced plans to economically isolate Iran with new sanctions targeting Teheran's trading partners. Financial Secretary Scott Bessent stated that anyone trading with Iran would face the full force of US power, aiming to cut off all Iranian revenue sources.

He was asked if this includes China, Teheran's main importer of Iranian oil, to which he merely stated that no one should test Washington's resolve. Three additional buildings in the Gaza Strip were reportedly struck after evacuation warnings were issued. The Israeli military explained that it had attacked targets in the Shati refugee camp in Gaza City and Deir al-Balah, alleging they were Hamas weapons depots stored in mosques.

The military did not provide evidence but claimed dozens of Kalashnikov rifles, magazines, and other military supplies were stored there. Iran continues to block passage through the Strait of Hormuz through threats and attacks on ships, a vital route for oil, gas, and fertilizer exports from Persian Gulf states. This has implications for the global economy.

Teheran demands that ships use only a route designated by Iran along its own coastline and has repeatedly claimed that only the route approved by Teheran through the Strait of Hormuz is safe.