Oil Tankers Targeted, Prices Surge

U.S. airstrikes have hit Iranian Revolutionary Guard positions near the Strait of Hormuz, triggering a swift response from Tehran: missile and drone attacks on American bases in Jordan, Kuwait, and Bahrain. Iran claims 18 killed in the U.S. raids, while a Red Crescent report of a wedding venue hit with four civilian deaths and 67 wounded is adding fuel to international outrage and legal scrutiny. The stakes are growing as Washington moves toward an economic blockade and direct strikes on Iranian oil tankers—putting oil markets on edge, with Brent crude jumping over 6% to $95 a barrel and U.S. diesel at a four-year high.

But here’s the catch: enforcement isn’t airtight. Iran’s oil exports have plummeted from two million to around 250,000 barrels per day, yet China, Pakistan, and Turkey are openly resisting U.S. pressure to cut ties, softening the blockade’s bite. The U.S. parades its naval muscle—CENTCOM escorting 40 ships through Hormuz—but independent trackers show far fewer actual transits, and risks remain “severe.” Diplomatic options are stalled as the old framework deal lapses with no replacement, while Iran warns of more attacks, cyber operations, and even threats to halt all oil outflows if economic war escalates.

Featuring reporting and analysis from BBC, CityNews Montreal, Gulf News, The Hindu, The Times of India, haaretz.com, and Bloomberg.

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