Key facts
- The first oil tanker since the war began, carrying 2 million barrels, has sailed from the Gulf to Europe.
- The US military launched new self-defense strikes against multiple targets in Iran, described as skirmishes.
- US President Trump claims the US has been seizing millions of barrels of oil from Iran nightly.
- Three Indian seafarers are missing following a suspected US strike on an oil tanker.
- Iran's ambassador to the UN stated that no sustainable deal can be reached through threats or force.
The US military has launched new self-defense strikes against multiple targets in Iran, with officials stating the aim is to accelerate stalled negotiations. These actions come as the first oil tanker since the war began, carrying 2 million barrels, has sailed from the Gulf to Europe.
US President Trump has claimed that the US has been seizing millions of barrels of oil from Iran nightly and controls the Strait of Hormuz, ensuring safe passage for oil. However, US Energy Secretary Chris Wright stated he was unaware of the US taking oil from Iran. Three Indian seafarers remain missing following a suspected US strike on an oil tanker, prompting India to summon a US diplomat.
Iran's ambassador to the UN, Amir Saeid Iravani, asserted that no sustainable deal can be reached through threats or force, urging the US president to abandon threats and engage in diplomacy based on mutual respect. The Iranian Red Crescent has placed its emergency operations centres across the country on full alert, and Iranian media has reported explosions in various locations, including Bandar Abbas, western Tehran, Qeshm island, and Hengam, attributing some to military projectiles.
Despite escalating tensions and military strikes, a ceasefire is reportedly still in place, though the situation remains uncertain. The UN chief has warned of far-reaching global consequences from the Middle East crisis. France has invited Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE to a G7 summit to discuss the conflict and the security of the Hormuz Strait.