The US Central Command reported on Monday that a US Navy destroyer halted the Iranian-flagged tanker M/T Stream as it attempted to head to an Iranian port, as part of its maritime pressure strategy against Tehran.
With a ceasefire in place, the US and Iran are at a standstill over the strait, through which a fifth of the world's oil and gas trade passes during peacetime. The US blockade is designed to prevent Iran from selling its oil, depriving it of crucial revenue and potentially creating a situation where Tehran may have to halt production because it has nowhere to store the oil.
However, the strait's closure has put pressure on Trump, as oil and gasoline prices have surged ahead of the crucial midterm elections, pressuring Gulf allies who use the maritime route to export their oil and gas.
In the afternoon, the Israeli army issued an urgent warning on Tuesday to residents of over a dozen villages and towns in southern Lebanon, urging them to evacuate immediately towards the north and indicating an imminent attack.
Qatar warns of a "deep-rooted conflict" in the Gulf amid diplomatic stalemate
Qatar warned on Tuesday against a "deep-rooted conflict" in the Gulf, as talks between the United States and Iran to permanently end the war appear to be stalled. "We do not want to witness a resumption of hostilities in the region soon, we do not want to see a perpetual conflict" that could be reignited under any political pretext, stated the spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Majed al-Ansari, during a press conference in Doha. The White House indicated on Monday that it is considering a new proposal from Tehran to unblock the Strait of Hormuz, which has been virtually paralyzed since the start of the war in the Middle East.
Five people sentenced to life imprisonment in Bahrain for preparing "terrorist acts"
Five people were sentenced to life imprisonment on Tuesday in Bahrain for collaborating with Iran with the aim of committing "terrorist acts" in this Gulf country, pointed out by Tehran during the war, announced the Attorney General. The accused, two Afghans and three Bahrainis, were found guilty, among other charges, of monitoring and photographing "vital sites" on behalf of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards, the Prosecutor's Office said in a statement, while a sixth accused was acquitted. "The crime of collusion with foreign entities hostile to the kingdom of Bahrain constitutes one of the most serious crimes that threaten national security," he stated.
Sweden issues an alert due to the risk of aviation fuel shortage in Europe
The Swedish Government announced on Tuesday that it has issued an early alert due to the risk of aviation fuel shortage in Europe because of the war conflict in the Middle East and the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. "We warn in advance of the risk of insufficient aviation fuel," stated the Minister of Energy, Ebba Busch, during a press conference. The Swedish Government recommends that those traveling by plane, especially outside of Europe, stay informed about the country's situation and the possible coverage of their travel insurance.
Iran eases internet restrictions for businesses
Iran's main security body has approved a temporary plan for companies to access the global internet with fewer restrictions, as reported on Tuesday by a government spokesperson to Iranian media, after authorities imposed a blackout since the beginning of the war against the United States and Israel. Most Iranians have been unable to access the global network for the past 60 days, according to the internet observatory NetBlocks, and only a few citizens have had access to advanced and expensive VPNs that allow bypassing restrictions. "The Supreme National Security Council approved the 'Internet Pro' plan to support companies in times of crisis," stated government spokesperson Fatemeh Mohajerani. She did not specify when the new measures were introduced, which had not been previously disclosed by the government.
Gulf Arab leaders coordinate their future relations with Iran at an extraordinary summit
The leaders of the wealthy oil alliance of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) will hold an emergency summit on Tuesday to address the crisis caused by the war in that region and their future relations with Iran following Iranian attacks on their territories and the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. According to sources from the GCC in Cairo, the summit will take place in the Saudi city of Jeddah, on the Red Sea coast, where the heads of state of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman, and the host, Saudi Arabia, "will discuss the repercussions of Iranian aggressions." They will "analyze the situation and ways to confront the repeated Iranian attacks and those of its allies against infrastructures, civilian and oil facilities, as well as the repercussions of the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, which disrupted navigation and harmed global trade," the sources said.
Israeli army orders evacuation of over a dozen villages in southern Lebanon
The Israeli army issued an urgent warning on Tuesday to residents of more than a dozen villages and towns in southern Lebanon, urging them to evacuate immediately towards the north and indicating an imminent attack. The warning stated that the measure was necessary due to the violation by the Hezbollah militia of a ceasefire agreement with Israel.
US can no longer dictate its policies to other countries, according to an Iranian spokesperson
The United States is no longer able to dictate what other countries should do, declared a spokesperson from Iran's military sector on Tuesday, as Washington analyzes an Iranian proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. "The United States is no longer in a position to dictate its policy to independent nations," stated the spokesperson from the Ministry of Defense, Reza Talaei Nik, according to state television. According to the spokesperson, the United States "will accept that it must abandon its illegal and irrational demands." Iran has effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz since the start of the war with the United States and Israel, in a move that has shaken global energy markets and placed that passage at the center of negotiations to end the conflict.