IRGC-linked media called for Iran to generate revenue from undersea internet cables passing through the Strait of Hormuz, framing the waterway not only as an energy and shipping chokepoint but also as a digital pressure point.
Oil chiefs warn Hormuz closure exposes fragility of global energy system Senior figures in the oil and gas industry say the war involving Iran is set to reshape the global energy system, warning that recent disruptions have exposed deep structural weaknesses. Speaking to CNBC, industry leaders said the closure of the Strait of Hormuz has laid bare how vulnerable global supply chains are to shocks. They warned the disruption will drive a fundamental shift in the energy landscape, with governments and companies expected to place far greater emphasis on resilience.
US says naval blockade on Iran continues, 58 vessels diverted The United States says it is maintaining its naval blockade on Iran, with operations ongoing in the region. US Central Command said in a post on X its forces have intercepted dozens of vessels since mid-April as part of efforts to enforce the blockade. It added that, since 13 April, US forces have diverted 58 commercial ships and disabled four others to stop them from reaching Iranian ports.
Washington has hailed the operation as a major security victory amid its standoff with Iran over a far larger stockpile The US has triumphantly announced that it has removed highly enriched uranium (HEU) from Venezuela in what the US Department of Energy (DOE) hailed as a victory for America and "the world.
Bahrain arrests 41 people it says are linked to Iran’s IRGC Bahrain’s interior minister said on Saturday that it arrested 41 people allegedly connected to Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, according to reports in the state news agency.
The landlocked body of water has taken on new significance, with Russia shipping military and commercial goods to bolster Tehran’s ability to withstand the U. S. assault.
Washington DC [US], May 9 (ANI): The US Treasury Department on Friday (Local Time) announced sweeping new sanctions targeting individuals and companies accused of helping Iran procure weapons, UAV components and missile-related materials as part of the US President Donald Trump administration's 'Economic Fury' campaign.
CIA estimates Iran can withstand blockade for four months A Central Intelligence Agency assessment has concluded that Iran could withstand the current US naval blockade for about four more months before facing enough economic pressure to force major concessions, according to a Reuters report citing a US official familiar with the analysis. The assessment suggests that Washington’s efforts to pressure Tehran have so far had only limited economic impact. The report comes as diplomatic efforts to end the conflict between the United States and Iran appear to be losing momentum.
Massive $7bn oil bets before Trump's Iran announcements raise questions Trading data reviewed by Reuters showed that investors placed roughly $7 billion in bets on falling oil prices during March and April, shortly before major announcements by US President Donald Trump concerning Iran policy and the war in the Middle East. The positions, involving crude oil, diesel and gasoline futures on the Intercontinental Exchange and Chicago Mercantile Exchange, were executed immediately before statements that triggered sharp price declines, raising questions about possible use of undisclosed information. Reuters reported that traders first identified unusual activity on 23 March, minutes before Trump announced a delay in attacks on Iranian energy infrastructure, causing prices to fall sharply.
Oil prices rise amid Hormuz tensions, hopes for agreement Brent crude futures rose sharply on Friday as tensions escalated between the United States and Iran in the Strait of Hormuz, though gains eased later amid expectations of a possible diplomatic breakthrough. Brent crude settled at $101. 29 per barrel, up $1.
Rubio says sanctions target Chinese entities providing Iran with satellite imagery US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Washington had imposed sanctions on Chinese entities accused of providing Iran with satellite imagery used to support attacks against US forces in the Middle East. Rubio said the sanctions also targeted Iran’s overseas arms procurement networks and international companies alleged to have supplied raw materials for Tehran’s missile and drone programmes. “We will use our unilateral sanctions to pursue any party that violates UN Security Council resolutions on Iran,” Rubio said.
UN: Iran war pushes global food prices to three-year high Global food prices rose to their highest level since 2023 in April, driven in part by the conflict in the Middle East, according to the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO). The agency said its food price index increased 2 percent year-on-year as higher crude oil prices boosted demand for seed oils used in biofuels, while concerns over weaker production in Southeast Asia also pushed prices upward. The agency warned that sustained increases in fertiliser prices could encourage farmers to shift away from wheat towards less fertiliser-intensive crops, potentially tightening global wheat supplies further and placing additional upward pressure on prices.
The new measures are focused on Chinese companies that supply Iran’s military with materials to make drones.
US sanctions target firms tied to Iran drone supply network The US Treasury Department has imposed sanctions on 10 individuals and companies accused of helping Iran’s military obtain weapons and materials used in the production of Shahed drones. Officials said several of the sanctioned entities are based in China and Hong Kong and are linked to supply chains supporting Tehran’s drone programme. The move comes as diplomatic efforts to end the war with Iran remain stalled and ahead of a planned visit by US President Donald Trump to China for talks with Xi Jinping.
The slick, captured in satellite images near Kharg Island in the Persian Gulf, has raised concerns about the condition of Iran’s oil infrastructure.
A maritime tracking company said the move was likely performative, given the Chinese-owned ship has an “established history within the Iranian trade ecosystem.
Three tankers reportedly reached the Islamic Republic via Pakistani waters as leaked US intel claimed Tehran could withstand the blockade for months Three Iranian oil tankers have bypassed what US President Donald Trump has called a naval "wall of steel" in the Strait of Hormuz and reached Iranian p
Three tankers reportedly reached the Islamic Republic via Pakistani waters as leaked US intel claimed Tehran could withstand the blockade for months Three Iranian oil tankers have bypassed what US President Donald Trump has called a naval "wall of steel" in the Strait of Hormuz and reached Iranian p
US allegedly blocking over 70 tankers from entering or leaving Iranian ports "There are currently more than 70 tankers that U. S. forces are preventing from entering or leaving Iranian ports," the United States Central Command announced in a post on X.
LONDON, U. K. : Even if the United States and Iran strike a deal to end the war in the Middle East, global oil supplies are expected to remain under pressure for months as depleted inventories, shipping delays, and disrupted refining capacity continue to strain markets during peak summer demand.
