US Centcom says Iran blockade reaches ‘milestone’ US Central Command (Centcom) released a report on Saturday which alleges that the US maritime blockade of Iran reached a “milestone of redirecting 100 commercial vessels” since it began on 13 April. https://t. co/zVoJIdxYxk — U.
IRGC says 25 ships passed through Strait of Hormuz in last 24 hours The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said it has allowed 25 ships to pass through the Strait of Hormuz in the last 24 hours. The IRGC told the Fars News agency that the vessels had obtained permssion from Tehran before passing through.
Tanker carrying Saudi crude set to arrive in Japan The first Japanese-managed oil tanker to successfully transit the Strait of Hormuz since the blockade is expected to arrive in Japan shortly, according to public broadcaster NHK. The Panama-flagged Idemitsu Maru is scheduled to dock at a refining facility in Aichi Prefecture on Monday. The vessel is carrying about 2 million barrels of crude oil from Saudi Arabia, NHK reported.
High oil prices help Gulf states weather regional turmoil Major global credit rating agencies have maintained the sovereign ratings of key Gulf states despite the economic uncertainty caused by the war with Iran and disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz. According to reports published by Investing. com citing data from Moody’s, Fitch and S&P Global Ratings, the agencies pointed to large sovereign wealth assets, strong financial reserves and elevated oil prices as factors supporting the region’s creditworthiness.
India raises fuel prices for third time this month India’s state-run fuel retailers have raised petrol and diesel prices for the third time this month as higher global oil prices linked to the US-Israel war on Iran continue to strain energy markets. Petrol in New Delhi rose by 0. 87 rupees to 99.
Trump says US earned back Iran war costs through Venezuela oil US President Donald Trump said revenues from Venezuelan oil had more than offset the cost of the US war on Iran, claiming the gains had paid for the conflict “about 25 times over”. Speaking during a public address, Trump pointed to US actions involving Venezuela as evidence that his administration’s policies had produced significant economic benefits. “How did we do in Venezuela?
US lawmaker seeks fuel-tax suspension amid rising prices California Congressman Mark Levin said rising fuel prices linked to the US war on Iran are placing a growing burden on American families and businesses, and announced support for legislation to suspend the federal gasoline tax through October 2026. In a post on X, Levin said the conflict had caused gas prices to surge, increasing costs for commuters, parents and small businesses. The proposed measure would temporarily suspend the federal gas tax of 18.
Only 30% of projected number of trucks entered Gaza this week Only 1,287 of commercial and humanitarian aid trucks have entered Gaza betwen 15 and 21 of May, reaching just 30% of the projected 4,200 truck count, according to a Friday statement from the Gaza Government Media Office. Of these trucks, only 35 fuel trucks and 693 humanitarian aid trucks were admitted. The Media Office stated that "this confirms that the policy of curtailing the entry of trucks and fuel is continuing, thereby deepening the state of strangulation and siege imposed on the Gaza Strip.
Iran says 35 ships passed Hormuz with permission in last 24 hours Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy said that 35 ships, including oil tankers and container vessels, have transited the Strait of Hormuz in the past 24 hours. It said that these movements took place with the permission of Iran. The IRGC said 31 ships crossed the waterway yesterday.
France may consider windfall tax on sectors buoyed by Iran crisis, finance minister says French Finance Minister Roland Lescure said on Friday the government may consider imposing a windfall tax on companies amid the surge in energy prices during the war in Iran. "If there are particular companies that have made an exceptional amount, maybe we will impose additional taxes, I'll say it that way, but this debate will take place in the fall," Lescure told Sud Radio. Several opposition French politicians have advocated for additional so-called windfall taxes on oil companies such as TotalEnergies since the US-Israeli war on Iran started in late February.
Iran condemns US sanctions on Lebanese officials Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned US sanctions on the country's ambassador to Lebanon alongside several other Lebanese officials and citizens. The US Treasury Department earlier announced that it imposed sanctions on nine people from Lebanon accused of “obstructing the peace process in Lebanon and impeding the disarmament of Hezbollah”. “Hezbollah is a terrorist organization and must be fully disarmed,” US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in a statement.
France unveils new $822m fuel support measures amid Iran war fallout France is introducing new support measures to ease the impact of rising fuel prices linked to the US-Israeli war on Iran. Budget Minister David Amiel said the government will provide targeted aid worth 710 million euros ($822m) to help households and businesses manage higher costs caused by the conflict. The latest package will raise France’s total spending on fuel support to nearly 1.
US sanctions 9 Lebanese figures over Hezbollah disarmament dispute The US Treasury Department has imposed sanctions on nine people from Lebanon accused of “obstructing the peace process in Lebanon and impeding the disarmament of Hezbollah”. “Hezbollah is a terrorist organization and must be fully disarmed,” US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in a statement. “Treasury will continue to take action against officials who have infiltrated the Lebanese government and are enabling Hezbollah to wage its senseless campaign of violence against the Lebanese people and obstruct lasting peace.
Turkey liquidates nearly all US Treasuries as Iran war bites economy: Report Submitted by MEE staff on Thu, 05/21/2026 - 19:24 Turkey sold $14bn in US Treasuries as it moved to support the lira This picture taken in Istanbul, Turkey, shows people looking at foreign exchange rates displayed against the Turkish lira, on 21 April 2024 (Yasin Akgul/AFP) Off Turkey sold almost all of its US Treasury holdings in March, in a sign of the deep economic pressure the country’s economy has come under as a result of the US-Israeli war on Iran. Turkey liquidated around $14bn in US Treasuries, bringing its total holdings of US debt to just $1. 6bn dollars, Bloomberg reported on Thursday, citing its own estimates based on US government data.
Saudi Arabia freezes work for western consultants, even as oil revenue rises Submitted by MEE staff on Thu, 05/21/2026 - 17:35 Kingdom's decision to crackdown on consultants comes as part of wider review that started before the war on Iran People walk along Riyadh's commercial Tahlia Street late at night, on 4 April 2026 (Fayez Nureldine/AFP) Off Saudi Arabia has stopped issuing new contracts for western consultants and delayed some payments, despite the kingdom’s oil export revenue soaring to a three-year high on the back of the US-Israeli war on Iran. The halt in new consultancy contracts came after the US-Israeli war on Iran erupted, The Financial Times reported on Thursday. One executive told the paper that payments of existing invoices have also been postponed until the end of the second quarter, which is the end of June.
Dubai launches second economic incentives package worth $408 million Dubai is set to provide economic incentives worth over $400 million, as businesses struggle to cope with the aftermath of the Iran war and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Authorities approved "a second package of economic incentives valued at AED 1. 5 billion ($408 million)", the Dubai government's media office said in a post on X.
US lifts sanctions on Francesca Albanese The US has lifted sanctions against the UN special rapporteur on the occupied Palestinian territories, Francesca Albanese, after a federal judge found that the Trump administration likely violated her free speech rights. The US Treasury Department confirmed the removal of Albanese's name from its sanctions list in an update on its website on Wednesday, under the heading “International Criminal Court-related Designation Removal”. The move came a week after US district judge Richard Leon issued a temporary injunction against the sanctions, finding that the Trump administration had sought to regulate Albanese's speech because of the "idea or message expressed".
US Treasury lifts sanctions against UN rapporteur on Palestine Francesca Albanese Submitted by MEE staff on Thu, 05/21/2026 - 10:23 The move was confirmed after a federal judge found the restrictions likely violated Albanese's free speech rights Francesca Albanese at a news conference in Geneva on the human rights situation in Gaza, on 15 September 2025 (AFP) Off The US has lifted sanctions against the UN special rapporteur on the occupied Palestinian territories, Francesca Albanese, after a federal judge found that the Trump administration likely violated her free speech rights. The US Treasury Department confirmed the removal of Albanese's name from its sanctions list in an update on its website on Wednesday, under the heading “International Criminal Court-related Designation Removal”. The move came a week after US district judge Richard Leon issued a temporary injunction against the sanctions, finding that the Trump administration had sought to regulate Albanese's speech because of the "idea or message expressed".
US lifts sanctions on UN expert Francesca Albanese The US Treasury Department has lifted sanctions on Francesca Albanese, the UN special rapporteur for the occupied Palestinian territory, according to information published on the department’s website. The move comes a week after a federal judge temporarily blocked the sanctions. The court found that the Trump administration had likely violated Albanese’s free speech rights by sanctioning her over criticism of Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza.
US pushes for greater energy exports to India after Iran war The Trump administration is seeking to expand energy exports to India as Washington looks to boost US energy sales following the US-Israeli war on Iran and the continuing blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. US ambassador to India Sergio Gor said India has shown interest in diversifying its energy sources, opening the door to increased American exports. “India has been receptive to diversification, and what that means is buying more American energy,” Gor told Bloomberg News in a phone interview.
