The conflict in Iran continues.
According to information published by American media, the Pentagon estimated the costs of the first six days of military operations at over $11.3 billion.
As reported by The New York Times and NBC News, military officials announced this figure during a closed briefing for lawmakers the day before.
It is worth noting that this amount does not include certain expenses for accumulating military equipment and personnel before the attacks began, suggesting that the actual costs may be significantly higher.
Other Events
In the Iraqi port of Al-Faw, two foreign oil tankers fell victim to attacks, while Kuwait, Qatar, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia successfully intercepted Iranian drones and missiles.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian set three conditions for ending the conflict: recognition of Tehran's legitimate rights, payment of reparations, and provision of reliable international guarantees against future attacks.
Concerns are growing in the Gulf states due to the increase in Iranian attacks on regional energy infrastructure.
Recently, there was an attack on fuel tanks in Bahrain, and on Wednesday, drones attacked similar facilities in the port city of Salalah in Oman. On the same day, Iranian forces attacked a cargo ship in the Strait of Hormuz, resulting in three sailors missing and 20 rescued by the Omani coast guard.
Interestingly, this incident occurred shortly after Trump's warning about threats from Iran regarding vessels in the strait.
The Iranian side reported that it attacked a ship under the Thai flag for ignoring their demands, emphasizing that all vessels must obtain permission to pass through the strait, and warned that the U.S. and its allies would not be able to navigate this narrow waterway through which 20% of the world's oil supplies pass.
Summary of Events:
- U.S. President Donald Trump stated that American troops have "overthrown" the Iranian leadership twice and destroyed Iran's fleet, without going into details.
- Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian confirmed Tehran's commitment to peace in the region but noted that the conflict could only end with the respect of its "legitimate rights."
- A representative of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps stated that attacks on American military bases in the region would continue.
- The UN Security Council adopted a resolution proposed by the Gulf Cooperation Council condemning Iranian attacks on countries in the region.
- Israel continues active airstrikes on Beirut and other areas of Lebanon, forcing more than 800,000 people to flee their homes.
- Kuwait, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia report intercepting missiles.
- The International Energy Agency (IEA) announced the release of strategic oil reserves to counter rising global energy prices.
Despite the IEA's announcement of the largest release of strategic reserves, oil prices continue to rise.
Brent crude oil futures, the international benchmark, increased by nearly 20%, as plans to release 400 million barrels failed to offset concerns about prolonged disruptions in shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
As of 14:00 GMT, Brent crude prices hovered around $101 per barrel, which is 38% higher than pre-war levels.
Iraq Temporarily Suspends Operations at Oil Port After Tanker Attacks.
The head of the Iraqi General Company for Ports, Farhan al-Fartusi, told local media that all operations at oil terminals have been completely suspended, while commercial ports are functioning as usual.
This statement was made following attacks on two oil tankers loading in the Umm Qasr port in Basra province.
In Bahrain, Four Arrested on Charges of Spying for Iran.
The Bahraini Ministry of Interior reported the detention of four citizens for "espionage activities in cooperation with the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps," including photographing various sites in the country.
The ages of the detainees range from 22 to 36 years, and a fifth person, 25 years old, "is abroad," according to the ministry's statement.
According to the ministry, the first detainee acted on the organization's instructions and used high-quality camera equipment to photograph and record the coordinates of key sites in Bahrain.
"The information obtained was transmitted to the Revolutionary Guard Corps using encrypted software," the ministry added.
Al Jazeera Arabic reports that three people were killed and four injured as a result of an airstrike on a Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) military camp in the western city of Al-Qaim.
The pro-Iranian "Popular Mobilization Forces," also known as "Hashd al-Shaabi," represent a coalition of mostly Shiite armed groups, many of which emerged during the resistance to the American occupation of Iraq.
The Death Toll from the Israeli Strike on Beirut Has Increased.
The Lebanese Ministry of Health reports that the number of fatalities from the Israeli airstrike on the Ramlet al-Bayda area has risen to eight, with 31 people injured.
Trump Paints a "Rosy Picture" of the War and Urges Oil Companies to Send Tankers Through the Strait of Hormuz.
John Holman
Reporting from Washington, USA.
President Trump continues to assert that the war is nearing its end and that the U.S. has nearly achieved complete success. At a press conference in Washington, he stated that American forces are destroying the Iranian fleet and promised to "keep a close eye on the Strait of Hormuz."
He also spoke with oil company executives, urging them to send tankers through the strait. However, these executives likely noted that three vessels were attacked near the strait, as well as two tankers carrying Iraqi oil. Trump assures that all mines in the Strait of Hormuz have been neutralized, but military experts point out that mines are not the only threat to maritime transport.
They mention submarines and small explosive boats that have already been used in attacks in Iraq.
Thus, the U.S. president paints an optimistic picture of the war, claiming that Iran is on the verge of defeat, while analysts warn that Tehran appears to be strengthening rather than weakening.
Trump also noted that, in his opinion, the U.S. could incapacitate Iran's power grid within an hour, but added: "We really don't want to do that." It is difficult to say whether this is a serious threat or just talk, but we will be closely monitoring the situation.
The U.S. president spoke to reporters in Maryland, discussing the situation in Iran.
Here are his words:
- "We have very good news from the front. Namely, Iran is being completely destroyed."
- "Iran is practically on the brink. This does not mean that we are going to end this immediately, but it is so. They have no fleet, no air force, no air defense, and no control systems. We are moving freely through the territory of this country."
- "Now we are closely monitoring the situation in the strait, which is in excellent condition."
- "The main thing is victory. Quickly, but victory... Most say that victory has already been achieved. The question is only when we will stop? We do not want it to be revived."
- "We can attack specific areas of Tehran and other places, but if we do, it will be almost impossible for them to restore the country, and we do not want that. But we can incapacitate their power grids; we can render their energy capabilities inoperable in one hour, and it will take them 25 years to restore them. Therefore, ideally, we do not want to do that."
Iraq appears to be becoming a secondary battleground in the broader conflict between Israel, the U.S., and Iran, reports Al Jazeera.
The two tankers that were attacked were loaded with crude oil and had departed from the Umm Qasr port in southern Iraq's Basra province. Shortly after leaving the port, they were attacked by an explosive boat in Iraqi territorial waters.
Iraqi authorities claim that this vessel is Iranian and laden with explosives. This echoes earlier threats from Iran regarding attacks on any oil tankers attempting to cross the Strait of Hormuz.
Currently, 38 crew members have been rescued, one person is considered dead. However, there is no information on the number of missing persons from both vessels.
Iraqi authorities claim that these attacks are dealing a severe blow to the country's economy.
Since the beginning of the conflict, oil production has sharply decreased: from 3.3 million barrels per day to less than one million. More than 90% of Iraq's budget is formed from oil revenues, so these attacks will significantly impact the already challenging financial situation in the country.
Iran-linked Hackers Attack Medical Giant Stryker in Retaliation for Cyberattack.
A major cyberattack on the global networks of Stryker, one of the leading medical equipment manufacturers, has been attributed to an Iran-linked hacker group that warned of the beginning of a new chapter in cyber warfare.
Handala, a hacker with documented ties to Tehran, stated that the attack was revenge for the deaths of more than 170 people, mostly schoolgirls, as a result of a strike on a school in the southern Iranian city of Minab on the first day of the U.S.-Israeli military war against Iran.
The hackers claimed to have seized 50 terabytes of the company's data, which they said "is now in the hands of free people around the world."
More detailed information is available here.
Summary of Recent Events
- In the Iraqi port of Al-Faw, there was an attack on two foreign oil tankers, shortly after a Thai vessel was struck in the Strait of Hormuz, and drones targeted fuel tanks in the Omani port of Salalah.
- Iran and "Hezbollah" have begun joint attacks on Israel, while Israeli forces continue their operations in Beirut.
- U.S. President Donald Trump promised to protect oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz, while Iran warns of the possibility of oil prices reaching $200 per barrel.
- The UN Security Council adopts a resolution condemning Iranian attacks on Gulf states and Jordan.
- Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian set three conditions for ending the war: recognition of Tehran's legitimate rights, payment of reparations, and provision of reliable international guarantees against future attacks.
- The International Energy Agency (IEA) announced the release of a record volume of oil reserves, specifying that it will provide 400 million barrels of oil.
The record "The Iranian War Continues: Oil Tankers Attacked in Iraq, Tehran Sets 3 Conditions for Peace" first appeared on K-News.
