Iran strikes ships, expands no-go zone outside Hormuz strait

On Wednesday, Iran attacked over a dozen ships attempting to pass through the strategic Strait of Hormuz, expanding a no-go zone around the crucial waterway it has blockaded for months, according to Iranian state media. The attacks also extended to the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea, with the Revolutionary Guards targeting two US vessels, eight oil tankers, and 10 non-compliant vessels.

This escalation comes as oil prices surged above $100 per barrel, driven by Iran's chokehold on the Strait and the United States' counter-blockade of Iranian ports. The attack on US forces in Jordan resulted in Jordanian military shooting down 18 missiles, while Iran's foreign ministry condemned the act as a threat to regional and international peace and security.

Iran has demanded a permanent end to the conflict and the withdrawal of US forces from Lebanon, the release of $24 billion in frozen assets, and an end to the blockade of Yemen. The US, eager to end the war, claims the conflict will conclude after the upcoming midterm elections in November, but US officials privately warn it could drag on for the remainder of President Trump's term.

The International Atomic Energy Agency voted to refer Iran to the UN Security Council over its nuclear non-compliance, a move seen as further pressure on Tehran.