All articles tagged with #us iran
Iranian officials deride the Trump administration’s plan for global economic isolation as colonial, Iran says Iraqi oil tankers may pass through the Strait of Hormuz, and a cleric claims the late Supreme Leader’s compound still bears the smell of burned flesh after an attack—though the accounts are not independently verified.
Oil prices climbed above $90 a barrel after the two-month window for a US-Iran ceasefire expired without a deal, as Iran warned of a tougher stance and Trump threatened to bomb Oman if it interferes, a combination that analysts say could push markets to price in a prolonged disruption through the Hormuz Strait, with shipping tensions and ongoing geopolitical risk adding to the energy rally.
Oil prices rose as Iran said the IRGC would keep control of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz until the US meets its demands, the US blockade remained in place, Trump floated a map labeling Hormuz as a new US territory, and a vessel was struck near Oman as a 60-day ceasefire expired, signaling heightened market and geopolitical volatility over Iran’s nuclear and shipping policies.
As the US-Iran ceasefire nears its expiration, the Trump administration pursues backchannel talks with Iran’s IRGC while signaling there is no rush to end the conflict. Trump downplays concerns about the military stockpile, warns Oman against interference in the Strait of Hormuz, and reiterates that preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon remains his top goal. Iran responds with a $30,000 bounty on U.S. troops, and Gulf states’ alignment against Tehran suggests deeper isolation and a fragile path toward any lasting peace.
The monthlong U.S.-Iran ceasefire is set to lapse as talks stall, driven by Iran’s internal factional splits, demands over frozen assets, and disputes on shipping in the Strait of Hormuz and sanctions, risking a resumption of conflict ahead of the U.S. midterm elections.
ISW-CTP’s update portrays Iran pressing for new US concessions before “reopening” the Strait of Hormuz, using messaging and force to signal continued control while hardliners led by IRGC commander Ahmad Vahidi shape demands. Tehran is pushing a six-point package (blockade lifting, sanctions relief, withdrawal of forces, war reparations, released assets, and ceasing attacks on allies) and has floated a temporary transit route through Oman, signaling that reopening remains conditional. A missile strike on a UAE-affiliate tanker in the Strait shows Iran’s ongoing coercive tactics. The US blockade remains costly to Iran’s oil exports and economy, but Iran has not softened its maximalist position. Iranian aims, according to the update, include international recognition of strait control, degrading US capabilities, restoring deterrence, and dividing the US-Israel axis from Arab states, with the update noting a revised structure following the resumption of war.
Iran’s Supreme National Security Council laid out six conditions before reopening the Strait of Hormuz, including an end to US threats, a halt to attacks on Iran and its allies in Lebanon, Palestine, Yemen and Iraq, withdrawal of US naval and air forces, full compensation for damages from two “imposed wars,” lifting of sanctions, and release of frozen assets—conditions that broaden the earlier memorandum and link Hormuz to a wider political package as Oman-brokered talks continue. Pezeshkian says now is the best time for an agreement.
Officials say Iran and Oman are nearing a deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz with inbound/outbound lanes split between them and security fees, a move potentially linked to lifting the US blockade on Iran. While US officials including Rubio and Bessent voiced optimism for a near-term agreement, no final deal has been reached. The coverage also notes ongoing Israel-Lebanon talks in Rome, Gaza casualties, and shifting oil dynamics as Hormuz shipments continue.
Qatar said a draft agreement to revive short-term US-Iran talks is circulating as mediators press a quick de-escalation path, with a focus on allowing more ships through the Strait of Hormuz; while progress is not guaranteed, the effort comes amid Trump’s warnings of possible strikes and evolving energy-market signals as Oman-Iran talks influence shipping routes through Hormuz.
Iraq’s prime minister’s international diplomacy push—visiting the US and eyeing Tehran plus other regional capitals—signals Baghdad’s bid to become a pivotal intermediary linking Washington, Tehran, and Gulf powers, leveraging energy and investment to boost its regional role while facing domestic governance hurdles and external competition.
The United States expanded airstrikes on Iran, targeting the Revolutionary Guard in retaliation for the deaths of American troops in Jordan, while Iran fired missiles toward Jordan; both sides have targeted civilian infrastructure and critical facilities, signaling a deepening conflict that threatens regional stability and upends shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, with the previously agreed de-escalation effort collapsing.
The United States launched a new round of strikes against Iran to degrade its ability to attack shipping in the Strait of Hormuz and announced the resumption of a naval blockade on Iranian ports as CENTCOM says forces are active across the region. Iran retaliated with strikes on Kuwaiti targets and other locations, while sanctions were issued and crude oil prices rose to four-week highs. Diplomatically, Lebanon-Israel talks in Rome were described as productive, Trump shifted from a Hormuz toll idea to pursuing Gulf trade deals, and the UN rights chief warned that renewed hostilities represent a major civilian setback.
Attacks around the Strait of Hormuz reduced traffic this week, but analysts say the global economy has learned to adapt—rerouting export routes and allowing demand to fall more quickly—keeping oil markets relatively muted and equities resilient. Brent crude flirted with $100 but did not break through, while WTI remained choppy and near its 200-day average. Three weeks of ceasefire and wary ship movements have dampened spillover fears, though a renewed escalation could push prices higher; traders remain focused on energy-supply logistics and broader market drivers like AI optimism.
The US-Iran ceasefire has collapsed after renewed exchanges of fire, prompting a wave of regional volatility while diplomacy continues behind the scenes with mediators in Pakistan, Qatar, and others; Iran reports strikes on multiple sites, including near Bushehr, but the US says it is not currently striking, as it maintains a strike capability and a target list. Meanwhile, Iran’s late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei was buried and his son Mojtaba has shown little public presence, fueling speculation about leadership. The situation keeps strategic hot spots—like the Strait of Hormuz—under pressure as talks on nuclear issues and broader regional stability continue amid mounting tensions.
As Iran buries its late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, the US-Iran ceasefire appears to be unraveling with renewed strikes and counterstrikes across the region. The US says diplomacy is ongoing but has strike options ready, while Iran reports attacks on sites and US retaliation, amid mediation efforts by Pakistan and Qatar to restart talks. Strait of Hormuz traffic remains volatile and GPS spoofing has resurfaced, and Iran's new leader Mojtaba Khamenei has not appeared publicly during the funeral period.