Russia's UN envoy says Hormuz navigation 'ruined' by US Mikhail Ulyanov, Russia's permanent representative to the United Nations, criticised US President Donald Trump's policy on the Strait of Hormuz in a post on X on Friday. "The logic of Washington is not understandable. It wants freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, but this freedom was ruined by the US aggression against Iran," he said.
Bessent says US set to apply measures never seen on Iran US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said that Washington is going to apply measures that have "never been seen" on Iran. "Watch this space for more announcements coming next week because we are going to apply measures like have never been seen in the history of economic isolation on a country," Bessent said during an interview on Newsmax's Rob Schmitt Tonight programme. "It will be a combination of economic isolation like the world has never seen before, and the continued blockade in the Strait of Hormuz that will keep anything from going in or out of the Iranian ports," he added.
Maersk CEO says conditions right to increase transit through Suez Maersk, a Danish shipping company which accounts for 15 percent of maritime transport worldwide, reported a second-quarter operating profit above expectations and raised its full-year earnings guidance. CEO Vincent Clerc said he thought the "conditions for a full return to Suez during 2026 are in place", as long as "nothing happens in Yemen". Yemen's Houthis have been attacking ships transiting through Bab al-Mandab and the Red Sea since 2023, and announced a full blockade of vessels transporting Saudi oil last month.
Brent oil price passes $90 as Iran-US deal hopes fade The price of Brent North Sea crude, the main international oil contract, climbed above $90 on Tuesday as hopes that the US and Iran reach a deal to end the war fade. Brent reached $90. 02 a barrel, a gain of more than 2.
Iran to increase gas production, says state minister Iran will bring back 95 million cubic metres of gas to its production cycle by the end of September, oil minister Mohsen Paknejad said on Tuesday according to the oil ministry's news outlet, as Tehran conducts repairs on energy infrastructure targeted by Israel and the US. In July, a senior government official said Iran expects to restore around 100 million cubic metres per day of natural gas production capacity "within the coming months," after strikes removed about 230 million cubic metres from output since the war started in late February.
UAE's Adnoc announces $8bn gas expansion, as it mulls Hormuz bypass Submitted by MEE staff on Mon, 08/10/2026 - 18:39 The UAE could be the first country to plan a gas pipeline bypassing the Strait of Hormuz Sultan Ahmed al-Jaber, the UAE's minister of industry and advanced technology, Adnoc managing director and group CEO, and chairman of the Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company 'Masdar', attends the fifth edition of the 'Make it in the Emirates' conference in Abu Dhabi, on 4 May 4 2026 (Fadel Senna/AFP) Off The UAE’s state-owned energy giant, Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (Adnoc), said on Monday it will invest $8bn to expand its gas business, doubling down on increasing capacity after the Gulf state pulled out of the Saudi Arabian- led energy alliance, Opec. Adnoc said it plans to build a new domestic natural gas processing unit at the country’s largest natural gas processing facility, Habshan, in addition to a new gas export facility at Ruwais. Separately, Adnoc Gas’s CFO, Peter van Driel, told Bloomberg on Monday that the company was also weighing plans to build a liquefied natural gas (LNG) export facility outside the Strait of Hormuz.
Hormuz traffic declines as Iran says Oman deal in 'final stages' Ship-tracking firm Marine Traffic has said that traffic through the Strait of Hormuz this weekend has declined, falling to just six crossings on Sunday. Bab al-Mandab remained busier, with close to 40 crossings yesterday. Weekend vessel traffic diverges Maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz weakened markedly over the weekend.
UAE oil company announces new investments to bypass Hormuz Abu Dhabi National Oil Co (Adnoc), the Emirate's national oil company, announced plans to construct a new gas export facility to bypass the Strait of Hormuz. The company reported its income for the second quarter of 2026 earlier today, beating forecasts with a net income of $665m and strong guidance for the rest of the year, contingent on exports being fully restored in the fourth quarter. Adnoc also announced its intention to construct a liquefied natural gas (LNG) export facility on the eastern coast of the UAE, which would allow it to move LNG out of the Persian Gulf without having to cross the Strait of Hormuz.
US says it has rerouted 55 Iran-linked vessels The US military said on Monday it had rerouted 55 commercial vessels sailing towards Iran as part of its operations to enforce restrictions on Iranian ports. The US Central Command, which coordinates US operations in the Middle East, said in a statement published on X that it had rerouted the vessels, disabled two others and inspected two additional ships to ensure compliance with the restrictions. U.
US army says 55 commercial vessels redirected amid its blockade against Iran The US Central Command said late on Sunday that its forces redirected 55 commercial vessels as part of its "strict enforcement" of the blockade against Iran. It also added that two more were disabled and another two were boarded to "ensure compliance".
Fleet of 56 tankers shipping oil through Hormuz 'covertly', tracking firm says A fleet of at least 56 is currently conducting "covert ship-to-ship transfer" of oil from Gulf countries, according to TankerTrackers. com, which tracks oil shipments. The firm said the fleet of "visually identified tankers is currently operating in digital darkness to support oil exports from Arab nations neighbouring Iran" “These vessels transit the Strait of Hormuz to conduct covert ship-to-ship (STS) transfers in the Gulf of Oman,” it said, adding that this helps “ensure that you can still afford to enjoy your summer holiday, even if it is only a day trip”.
Iran sets conditions for reopening Strait of Hormuz Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, has outlined Tehran’s conditions for reopening the Strait of Hormuz. In a statement carried by Iran’s state broadcaster IRIB, Zolghadr said Washington must “correct its behaviour” by: Ending threats against Iran and its “sacred values” Permanently halting military action against Iran and its regional allies Withdrawing US naval and air forces involved in the blockade of Iran Compensating Iran for damage inflicted during the recent conflict Lifting US sanctions Releasing frozen Iranian assets “The Supreme National Security Council will not retreat from these demands, whether in war or in negotiations,” Zolghadr said.
Malaysia seizes container suspected of carrying goods bound for Israel Submitted by MEE staff on Sat, 08/08/2026 - 12:50 The seizure comes as Kuala Lumpur enforces restrictions on exports to Israel and fulfils its commitments under The Hague Group A Singapore Police Coast Guard boat patrols the Johor Strait near Pasir Gudang, Malaysia, on 5 October 2019 (Roslan Rahman/AFP) Off Malaysian authorities seized a container at the Port of Tanjung Pelepas in Johor, suspected of carrying merchandise intended for export to Israel, local media reported. The container was seized Friday by the Malaysian Border Control and Protection Agency (AKPS) following intelligence received by authorities, which prompted an inspection, according to the report. AKPS said preliminary checks indicated that the shipment may violate customs law, which prohibits the direct or indirect export of goods to Israel.
Oman 'facing environmental disaster' as tanker leaks off its coast Oman is facing an impending environmental catastrophe as an alleged Russian shadow fleet tanker leaks oil across hundreds of square kilometres near a nature reserve, NGOs warn. The ship was rocked by explosions, a maritime security firm told AFP, but the cause of the blasts is unclear. Russia has built up a ghost fleet of old ships with opaque ownership to get around Western sanctions since its 2022 Ukraine invasion, and experts have said the vessels' poor condition increases the risk of oil spills.
Kpler: Hormuz traffic subdued, surges 18 percent through Bab el-Mandeb Traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remained subdued on 7 August, with eight confirmed crossings, down 33% from the previous day, according to maritime traffic tracking firm Kpler. Traffic through Bab el-Mandeb moved in the opposite direction, rising 18 percent to 26 confirmed crossings, including three dark transits. Most vessels used Iran’s Unilateral Scheme, Kpler said, and added that the International Maritime Organisation confirmed no additional vessel attacks.
US says it has redirected 51 vessels since reinstating Iran blockade United States Central Command (Centcom) said in a post on X that it has redirected 51 commercial vessels, disabled two, and boarded two others since it reinstated a naval blockade of Iran on 14 July. A U. S.
US Treasury targets crypto exchanges in new Iran sanctions The United States on Friday sanctioned an unlicensed multi-state cryptocurrency exchange, alleging it processed millions of dollars of crypto for Iran’s elite Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and other groups linked to the Iranian state. The designation follows a Reuters investigation published on 31 July that identified the Dubai-based exchange, Shelbit, as the hub of a $4 billion Iranian sanctions evasion scheme. The investigation found that Shelbit moved crypto on behalf of Iran’s central bank, one of the world’s largest illegal online gambling networks, and to addresses linked by the Israeli government to the IRGC.
Iranian president says US has exerted ‘maximum’ economic pressure Iran has lost about 230 million cubic metres of gas on a daily basis due to US-Israeli attacks, President Masoud Pezeshkian said in an interview circulated by the IRNA news agency. “Our enemies expected the country to collapse due to the pressures they have exerted,” Pezeshkian said, adding that such pressures have “reached their maximum”.
Iranian lawmaker says parliament reviewing bill to ban ‘hostile’ vessels from crossing Hormuz An Iranian lawmaker said on Thursday that the country’s parliament committee is reviewing a preliminary bill to ban US, Israeli, and other “hostile” vessels from passing through the Strait of Hormuz, according to Fars news agency. The lawmaker added that the draft bill envisages fines of up to 20 percent of the value of a ship’s cargo for violating their proposed Hormuz transit restrictions. The measures remain at the expert review stage, and parliament has invited specialists to submit recommendations to help finalise the draft, the lawmaker said.
Oil prices spike, but remain lower than last week Oil prices have surged ahead again on Thursday, after falling earlier this week following Trump’s announcement that negotiations with Iran were resuming on Tuesday. “Rising oil prices have crimped some of the optimism seen earlier in the week - but the price is still much lower than a week ago, providing a positive tailwind as we move into the second week of August,” Chris Beauchamp, a chief market analyst, told AFP.
