Oil rises again amid Middle East military escalation and Strait of Hormuz blockade

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U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) reported early Wednesday the end of its fourth wave of bombings against Iran and announced the resumption of the naval blockade of Iranian ports and coasts, a measure that had been suspended during the negotiations that led to the signing of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding. U.S. President Donald Trump declared that agreement terminated.

In response, Iran launched new attacks against U.S. military bases in Jordan, Bahrain and Kuwait. The Jordanian Army reported that its air defense systems intercepted and shot down three Iranian ballistic missiles, while Bahrain and Kuwait announced response operations.

Before the latest escalation, Trump warned he would order strikes against Iran’s strategic infrastructure if Tehran did not agree to negotiate a ceasefire. “We will put all their power plants out of commission. We will put all their bridges out of commission, unless they sit down at the table and negotiate,” he said.

For its part, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said the Strait of Hormuz, through which about 20% of the world’s traded oil and gas passes, will remain closed until U.S. military actions cease.

Below is the minute-by-minute coverage:

Iran executed a man arrested during the January protests

The Iranian regime executed on Wednesday a man accused of burning government and police facilities during the protests against the Islamic Republic’s authorities recorded in January in Isfahan province, according to Mizan News, a media outlet linked to the Iranian judiciary.

The report states that Mohammad Amini Dehaghani was hanged after the Supreme Court upheld the sentence. Judicial authorities say that on January 9 he threw Molotov cocktails at the governor’s office in Dehaghan and the central police station, and incited others to attack officers.

Official information cites surveillance footage and the accused’s confessions. It also claims Amini Dehaghani attempted to use a rifle taken from police during the protests.

Oil rises again amid military escalation in the Middle East

Bombas de extracción de petróleo en las afueras de Almetyevsk, en la república de Tartaristán, Rusia. 14 de julio de 2025 (REUTERS/Stringer)

U.S. benchmark crude (WTI) gained $0.86 to trade at $80.20 a barrel, while Brent, the international benchmark, rose $1.15 to $85.88 a barrel.

On Tuesday, oil closed up 2% and reached a one-month high, driven by attacks that worsened supply concerns in the Strait of Hormuz.

“Brent and WTI have made upward corrections in line with the escalation of attacks, but the magnitude of the move will probably moderate now as the market waits to see any change of posture from the U.S. and Iran,” said June Goh, senior oil market analyst at Sparta Commodities, in remarks to Reuters.

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U.S. killed seven military personnel in attacks in southeastern Iran

EEUU abatió a siete militares en ataques en el sudeste de Irán (Europa Press)

The Iranian Army announced it will respond to the attack on the Bambour barracks in Iranshahr, calling it “a cowardly aggression.” “A decisive response will be given to this crime at the appropriate time,” the statement cited by Tasnim said.

According to the military’s account, 13 U.S. missiles struck facilities in the Bambour barracks, causing the deaths of seven members of Brigade 388 and leaving several wounded. The Army said that “passive defense measures” limited the number of casualties.

The statement asserted that the U.S. attacks “sought to cause as many casualties as possible,” targeting a guesthouse, guard posts and housing areas on the base.

Death confirmed of an Indian sailor who was missing after an attack off the coast of Oman

An Indian national who had been missing after the attack on the merchant ship GFS Galaxy off the coast of Oman has died, his father-in-law confirmed on Wednesday, Reuters reported. Of the 11 Indian crew members on board, 10 were rescued, the Indian Ministry of External Affairs said on Sunday.

A former Iranian foreign minister urged a ground attack on a U.S. base and taking hostages

Former Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki proposed launching a ground offensive against a U.S. military base in the Middle East and taking hostages to bring them to Iranian territory.

“My proposal is to launch a ground attack against one of the U.S. bases in the region, capture 100 Americans and take them to Iran,” Mottaki, now a member of parliament, said.

Marco Rubio and the Jordanian foreign minister discussed Iranian attacks on ships in the Middle East

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said he met with Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi to address regional security issues, including “Iran’s ongoing attacks on vessels and countries in the region.”

El secretario de Estado de EE. UU., Marco Rubio, estrecha la mano del ministro de Asuntos Exteriores jordano, Ayman Safadi, en el Departamento de Estado de EE. UU., en Washington, D. C., EE. UU., el 14 de julio de 2026 (REUTERS/Ken Cedeno)

The UN Security Council voted to continue monitoring Houthi attacks in the Red Sea

The UN Security Council approved a resolution extending UN monitoring of Houthi attacks in the Red Sea for six months.

The measure, backed by 13 votes in favor with China and Russia abstaining, requires the UN secretary-general to submit monthly reports to the Council on the situation.

The Yemeni Houthi rebel group began attacking vessels in the Red Sea in late 2023, saying it targeted ships linked to Israel in response to the conflict in Gaza.

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Vessels linked to Iran left the Strait of Hormuz before the U.S. blockade

On Tuesday there was an increase in the number of ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz, most linked to Iranian trade, ahead of the U.S. blockade set to take effect Wednesday, shipping data show. Kpler records indicate nine of the eleven ships that crossed the route that day used the Iranian lane.

Among the vessels that entered the strait, three empty tankers were identified: one Aframax and two large tankers. As for departures, the data show a VLCC carried 2 million barrels of crude oil, a medium tanker transported refined products, and two additional ships moved liquefied petroleum gas.

The commercial flow also included a tanker loaded with methanol and a bulk carrier with iron ore, both departing the Gulf on Tuesday.

The Jordanian Army said it shot down three missiles launched by Iran

Una captura de pantalla de un video de la televisión estatal iraní muestra un misil iraní volando en un lugar desconocido (REUTERS)

The Jordanian Army reported that its air defense systems intercepted and shot down three ballistic missiles that entered Jordanian airspace from Iranian territory. In an official statement, authorities said the Royal Engineer Corps handled the debris of the fallen missiles at different locations, followed technical and safety protocols, and secured the affected areas to protect the population and property.

“The Jordanian Armed Forces reject any violation of the Kingdom’s sovereignty or the use of its airspace to threaten its security and stability,” the military authorities said, adding that they maintain aerial surveillance at the highest level of readiness.

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Iran’s Revolutionary Guard attacked Gulf countries after the CENTCOM operation

The Iranian Army announced early Wednesday new drone strikes against U.S. military installations in the Middle East amid the latest military escalation between Tehran and Washington. According to a statement released by Tasnim, linked to the Revolutionary Guard, Al Azraq airbase in Jordan — where F-18 jets, accommodations and depots of U.S. equipment were located — was attacked with drones.

The military defended the operation dubbed “Lightning” and declared that “the era of strikes to the face is over and any action against the land, waters and skies of this historic country will not go unanswered nor without a proportional cost.”

In addition, the Revolutionary Guard reported attacks by its Navy and Aerospace Force against a U.S. storage facility at Sheikh Isa base in Bahrain and against U.S. drones at Ali Al Salem base in Kuwait. According to the statement, “in a simultaneous operation with missiles and drones, Navy and Aerospace Force fighters of the Revolutionary Guard destroyed several weapons and spare parts depots for enemy ships and aircraft at Sheikh Isa base in Bahrain a few hours ago.”

The military report also highlighted that “they attacked the ramp where enemy MQ9 drones were deployed at Ali Al Salem base in Kuwait, destroying or damaging several of them.”

Iran: the Strait of Hormuz will remain closed until “U.S. harms end”

Un barco en el estrecho de Ormuz (REUTERS/Stringer)

The Revolutionary Guard announced that the strategic waterway will remain closed until U.S. actions cease, according to a statement released Tuesday. The military organization claimed the U.S. attacked Iranian bases “under the pretext of striking violator ships” that tried to transit the strait “to hide its defeat and incapacity.”

In the text, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps emphasized that “no ship dared to violate [the Iranian blockade] or accompany the United States,” and added that, as a result, “there were naturally no impacts” during the operation.

White House: “Divisions in Iran demonstrate the success of Trump’s policy”

White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller said internal divisions among Iran’s leaders reflect the success of President Donald Trump’s policy toward Tehran. Miller made the remarks in an interview with Fox News.

According to the U.S. official, Iran’s leadership is currently facing “enormous fissures the size of cannons” after decades of unity. Miller insisted that the United States urges Iran to endorse a peace program and abandon its nuclear ambitions.

Pezeshkian said he will defend “every centimeter” of Iran amid new escalation with the U.S.

El presidente iraní, Masoud Pezeshkian (REUTERS)

Iran’s president, Masoud Pezeshkian, said his country will defend “every centimeter” of its territory amid the escalation with the United States, after U.S. President Donald Trump said he had eliminated most of Iran’s military capabilities. “We will defend every centimeter of our homeland with our actions,” Pezeshkian said in an interview with state television.

The president’s remarks came amid growing hostilities, after the United States launched bombings in southern Iran following Tehran’s attacks on commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz. In response, Iran carried out missile and drone strikes against U.S. targets in the region.

“Their rhetoric continues, but the question is: have they achieved their objectives on the battlefield?” Pezeshkian challenged, referring to Trump’s statements and U.S. military actions.

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