Regional tensions rise as maritime attacks and stalled negotiations hinder Strait of Hormuz reopening
A Saudi-linked vessel was hit by a missile in the Red Sea, while talks over the Strait of Hormuz remain deadlocked, prompting higher oil prices and heightened security alerts.
A Saudi-owned commercial ship was reportedly struck by a missile while transiting the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, killing three crew members, according to marine-intelligence firm Marisks and Yemeni officials. The attack follows a warning from Yemen’s Houthi movement that it would target Saudi shipping in response to a Saudi blockade.
In Lebanon, President Joseph Aoun posted on X that negotiators will not allow any Israeli presence on Lebanese soil, reiterating the country’s demand for complete withdrawal of Israeli forces. The seventh round of talks in Rome concluded without progress on expanding “pilot zones,” and no date has been set for the next round.
Iran announced that it will restore 95 million cubic metres per day of gas production lost after attacks on facilities in Asaluyeh, with reconstruction work on four damaged plants accelerated, oil minister Mohsen Paknejad said. He warned that some capacity would remain unavailable through winter.
The UK Maritime Trade Operations centre reported an incident involving a container ship and unidentified military forces near the Gulf of Oman, but provided no details on the parties involved.
U.S. President Donald Trump declared the Strait of Hormuz “open” after a naval sweep for mines, though vessel-tracking data showed only a limited number of ships crossing the waterway, far below pre-war averages. Brent crude rose 2 % to about $89 a barrel, reflecting market concerns over the stalled diplomatic process.
Both Tehran and Washington have set new conditions for reopening the strait. Iran insists the United States lift its naval blockade of Iranian ports, while the U.S. side has demanded compensation for past Iranian actions. The reciprocal demands have reduced optimism for a rapid resolution.