Oil rises amid Middle East escalation and Strait of Hormuz blockade

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

In response, Iran launched new attacks on U.S. military bases in Jordan, Bahrain and Kuwait. The Jordanian Army said 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 on 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 roughly 20% of the world’s traded oil and gas passes, will remain closed until U.S. military actions stop.

Below is minute-by-minute coverage:

Iran executed a man arrested during the January protests

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

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

The official information cites surveillance recordings 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) rose $0.86 to trade at $80.20 per barrel, while Brent, the international benchmark, gained $1.15 to $85.88 per 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 adjusted upward in line with the escalation of attacks, but the magnitude of the move will likely moderate now as the market waits to see any change in stance from the U.S. and Iran,” said June Goh, senior oil market analyst at Sparta Commodities, in an interview with Reuters.

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

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

The Iranian Army said 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 agency said.

According to the military, 13 U.S. missiles struck facilities in the Bambour barracks, killing seven members of the 388th Brigade and injuring several others. The Army said “passive defense measures” limited the number of casualties.

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

Death confirmed of Indian sailor missing after attack off 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, according to Reuters. Of the 11 Indian crew members on board, 10 were rescued, the Indian Ministry of External Affairs reported on Sunday.

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

Former Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki proposed a ground offensive against a U.S. military base in the Middle East and the taking of 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 Jordan’s foreign minister, Ayman Safadi, to address regional security issues, including “the ongoing attacks by Iran against 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)

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

The UN Security Council approved a resolution extending UN monitoring for six months of attacks carried out by the Houthis in the Red Sea.

The measure, backed by thirteen votes in favor with China and Russia abstaining, requires the UN Secretary-General to present monthly reports to the Council on the situation.

The Yemeni Houthi rebel group began attacking vessels in the Red Sea in late 2023, saying its targets were 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 Iran’s trade, ahead of the U.S. blockade set to take effect Wednesday, according to shipping data. Kpler records show nine of the eleven vessels that crossed the route that day used the Iranian lane.

Among the vessels entering the strait were three empty tankers: one Aframax and two large tankers. For departures, the data indicates one VLCC carried 2 million barrels of crude oil, a medium tanker transported refined products, and two other vessels 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 Engineers units managed the debris from the missiles that fell at different locations, following established technical and safety protocols, and secured the affected areas to protect people 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 air surveillance at the highest state of readiness.

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The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps attacked Gulf countries after the CENTCOM operation

The Iranian military 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 distributed by Tasnim, an agency linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, the Al Azraq airbase in Jordan — where F-18 fighters, lodging and U.S. equipment depots were located — was attacked with drones.

The military defended the operation, named “Lightning,” and said “the era of slap-in-the-face strikes is over and any action against the soil, waters or skies of this historic country will not go unanswered or without a proportional cost.”

The IRGC also reported naval and aerospace strikes against a U.S. warehouse at the Sheikh Isa base in Bahrain and against U.S. drones at the Ali Al Salem base in Kuwait. According to the statement, “in a simultaneous missile and drone operation, naval and aerospace fighters of the IRGC destroyed several depots of weapons and spare parts for enemy ships and aircraft at Sheikh Isa base in Bahrain a few hours ago.”

The military bulletin also noted that “they also attacked the ramp where enemy MQ-9 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 “the evils of the United States end”

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

The Islamic 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 violating ships” that tried to transit the strait, “to hide its defeat and incapacity.”

In the text, the IRGC emphasized that “no ship dared to violate [the Iranian blockade] or escort the United States,” and added that consequently “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 the 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 now faces “huge fissures the size of cannons” after decades of unity. Miller reiterated that the United States urges Iran to support a peace program and abandon its nuclear ambitions.

Pezeshkian vowed to defend “every inch” of Iran amid new escalation with the U.S.

El presidente iraní, Masoud Pezeshkian (REUTERS)

Iranian President Masud Pezeshkian said his country will defend “every inch” of its territory amid rising tensions with the United States, after U.S. President Donald Trump claimed to have eliminated much of Iran’s military capabilities. “We will defend every inch of our homeland with our actions,” Pezeshkian said in an interview with state television.

The president’s remarks came in a context of growing hostilities, after the United States launched bombings in southern Iran following Tehran’s attacks on commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz. In response, Iran fired missiles and drones at U.S. targets in the region.

“His 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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