U.S. President Donald Trump has vowed to retaliate with strikes on Iranian civilian infrastructure for any attacks on shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, as regional tensions intensify.
In response to escalating hostilities, global oil prices saw a significant surge, with Brent crude futures briefly surpassing $95 per barrel for the first time in nearly six weeks. Crude futures later receded slightly but remained up approximately three percent.
Amid these developments, Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen have reportedly issued radio warnings to ships in the region. This comes after the Houthis declared a naval blockade of Saudi Arabia. The International Chamber of Shipping confirmed that Houthi radio transmissions warning vessels were recorded.
President Trump's explicit threat, communicated via social media, stated that for "any time the Islamic Republic of Iran shoots at a ship in the Strait of Hormuz, whether it be by Missile, Rocket, Drone, or any other device or weapon, the United States will bomb and destroy ONE BRIDGE OR POWER PLANT." He further warned that he was "not finished" with the conflict, which has already incurred substantial costs for Washington.
The U.S. military confirmed it had struck Iran's Larak Island in the Strait of Hormuz, with Iran's Tasnim news agency reporting that the extent of the damage was under assessment. Simultaneously, Jordanian authorities announced the interception of four Iranian missiles, with two others landing in uninhabited areas without causing casualties or damage.
