The U.S. Central Command has denied an Iranian claim that the Panama‑flagged oil tanker El Gaia struck naval mines in the Strait of Hormuz. According to the U.S. military, the vessel was first hit by an Iranian missile last month, rendering it inoperable, and was struck again by an Iranian drone over the weekend while in waters off Oman. The tanker is now under tow by a regional partner.
A Pentagon watchdog report released earlier this week estimated that the United States spent $22.3 billion on munitions in the first four months of its conflict with Iran, a figure that highlights shortages in the defense industrial base. The report also cited strategic inventory shortfalls and bottlenecks in munitions resupply, prompting the Pentagon to accelerate procurement and stockpile critical materials.
Oil markets reacted to the heightened tensions, with U.S. crude rising 1.82 percent to $103.24 a barrel and Brent climbing 1.6 percent to $107.37. The surge follows a new wave of attacks by Yemen’s Iran‑aligned Houthis on Saudi Arabia, prompting the Saudi‑led coalition to report 13 civilian injuries and damage to infrastructure. Saudi civil defence issued all‑clear alerts after earlier emergency warnings in six cities.
Donald Trump posted on Truth Social that he remains “open” to negotiating a deal with Iran, stating that the final decision rests with him. Iranian security officials warned that the U.S. president’s mixed signals could distract from Iran’s conditions for talks. The statements come amid ongoing U.S. military operations and diplomatic efforts to address the escalating conflict in the region.
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