Hormuz crisis deepens as Iran war costs US $38b; Houthi attacks injure Saudi civilians

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Iran’s crude exports have effectively disappeared from the international market as a US naval blockade, tighter sanctions and months of attacks have disrupted the country’s ability to move oil through the Gulf of Oman and into global markets.

TankerTrackers.com said not a single barrel of Iranian crude crossed the US Navy blockade line between the Gulf of Oman and Arabian Sea during the previous 60 days, citing the vessel-tracking data cited by the service.

Reuters separately reported that a US-enforced blockade on Iran-related shipping had halted Iranian crude exports since it was reimposed in mid-July.

Oil prices remained above $100 a barrel on Wednesday as traders weighed tightening physical supplies, disruptions to Saudi export routes and uncertainty over when normal shipping through the Strait of Hormuz can resume.

Brent crude was around $107.84 a barrel and U.S. West Texas Intermediate at $104.89 in Asian trading at 9:47 a.m. Tokyo time on Sept. 16, according to Gra. Both benchmarks had reached their highest settlement levels since May 19.

The latest rally has been driven by more than the risk of a prolonged Hormuz disruption. Saudi Arabia has halted oil loadings at its Yanbu port after damage to the East-West pipeline, removing an important route for moving crude to the Red Sea without using Hormuz. Saudi Arabia has been cancelling some crude cargoes to European customers as the disruption continues.

The Strait of Hormuz remains the biggest source of uncertainty. Only four commodity vessels crossed the waterway on Monday, compared with a pre-war average of about 125 daily transits, according to Kpler data cited by Reuters. The strait normally carries roughly one-fifth of global crude and LNG supplies.

US inventories of crude oil, gasoline and distillates all rose last week, according to data from the American Petroleum Institute, as the market weighs a prolonged US-Iran war and severe disruptions to Middle East oil shipping.

API said crude inventories increased by 7.1 million barrels in the week ended Sept. 11, while gasoline stocks rose 1.5 million barrels and distillates gained 1.6 million barrels. The figures are preliminary industry estimates ahead of the more closely watched Energy Information Administration report. The API says its weekly data are widely used by oil traders and companies.

The build in U.S. stocks comes as global oil markets face an unusual supply shock. Oil prices have climbed above $100 a barrel, with Brent reaching about $107.90 and WTI above $104.95 amid escalating Middle East disruptions, as as of 9.47am Tokyo on Wednesday (Sept. 16, 2026).

The US military is facing munitions shortfalls and bottlenecks in replenishing its weapons stocks after the war with Iran, according to a Pentagon inspector general. The report contrasts with President Donald Trump’s repeated claims that US supplies are “virtually unlimited.”

The watchdog said the Defence Department spent more than $22 billion on munitions between February and June, resulting in “strategic inventory shortfalls” and revealing bottlenecks in the industrial base that supplies weapons.

US military bases across the Middle East sustained damage during the war with Iran, with aircraft, weapons and other military equipment hit in Iranian attacks, according to an inspector general’s report covering operations through June 30. The report documented damage or destruction at US around the region. It also estimated $184 million in damage to US diplomatic facilities, most of it in Iraq.

Among the military assets damaged were F-15E fighter jets, KC-135 aerial refueling tankers and MQ-9 drones. The heavy use of US weapons during the conflict also contributed to shortages of some munitions, the report said.

The conflict began Feb. 28 with US-Israeli strikes on Iran and has stretched toward seven months. At least 18 US service members have been killed and hundreds wounded, according to US officials.

The 2026 UN Global Risk Report shows that large-scale war is now seen as the world's greatest vulnerability, while concerns about AI & political risks are rising rapidly. Respondents point to one clear solution: stronger international cooperation.

As of Sept. 15, US forces have redirected 103 commercial vessels to ensure compliance.

Saudi Arabia’s Civil Defence has confirmed that the danger has been lifted in Jazan Province, Abha City and Khamis Mushait Governorate following earlier emergency alerts.

Residents have been advised to continue following Civil Defence instructions through official channels and avoid gatherings and photography.

For emergencies, residents should call 998.

Saudi Arabia’s National Early Warning Platform has issued alerts for Jazan Province, Abha and Khamis Mushait Governorate, warning residents of potential danger, the General Directorate of Civil Defense said.

An alert was issued by the National Early Warning Platform for Emergency Situations in Abha, while another warning was issued for Khamis Mushait Governorate.

The platform also issued an alert for Jazan Province, urging residents to remain alert and follow official safety instructions.

Authorities have advised people in the affected areas to follow safety instructions and monitor official channels for further updates.

The alerts did not provide details about the nature of the potential danger.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke with Omani Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr Al Busaidi about shipping through the Strait of Hormuz and recent Iranian attacks in the waterway and against countries in the region, according to a US State Department readout.

Rubio acknowledged Oman’s role in efforts to de-escalate tensions in the region and condemned recent Iranian attacks on commercial vessels and regional countries, the statement said.

Rubio also reiterated the US commitment to preventing Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon and ensuring freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, according to the readout.

The war with Iran has cost the United States around $38 billion as of August 1, the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office said Tuesday, estimating monthly expenses could rise by billions if the conflict wears on.

"As of August 1, 2026, the armed conflict with Iran has cost (the Department of Defense) approximately $38 billion," said the CBO in a report, referring to the war that started after US-Israeli strikes targeting Iran from late February.

It added that depending on the intensity of violence, costs per month could range between $2-$3 billion or more if the conflict continued.

Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi said that he discussed selling oil to Europe during visits to France and Germany, as Baghdad seeks to diversify its export routes and reduce its reliance on the Strait of Hormuz.

During a press conference with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in Berlin, Zaidi said "we want to expand and diversify our export routes".

He added that "Iraq cannot remain hostage to a single corridor" as recent events have demonstrated, referring to the Strait of Hormuz, which has been blockaded by Iran during the Middle East war.

Zaidi said that he had discussed oil exports to Europe with Merz and French President Emmanuel Macron, whom he met in Paris on Monday.

Zaidi said that Baghdad could "double its oil exports through the Mediterranean" to supply markets in Europe and the United States.

Zaidi, who hopes to increase Iraq's oil production to 10 million barrels per day, said that "a large share, or nearly half, can go to European countries and the West".

He said that Iraq and Germany were expected to reach "an understanding on the export of crude oil" while Baghdad would purchase German technology and equipment.

Merz said that the main focus for Iraqi-German cooperation is the economy. "Many German companies are now active in Iraq. They are developing new solutions, for example for energy supply," he said, adding that "the best example is an agreement on Iraq's electricity supply, which we will sign today".

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has rejected claims that Iran is defenceless against US forces, calling them “fiction”.

In a post on X, Araghchi shared a US government document citing military reports that Iranian strikes had “damaged and destroyed hundreds of buildings and structures” at US bases in the region.

“That’s just the tip of the iceberg,” Araghchi said. “We’ll reveal it all in due course.”

The US military said that it opened fire and destroyed two small Iranian boats this week trying to steal a drone ship in the waters off Iran.

Capt. Tim Hawkins, US Central Command spokesman said that "Iranian small boats recently attempted to take possession of a U.S. unmanned surface vessel, but they were unsuccessful after CENTCOM forcefully responded."

Iranian state media reported that a pair of fishing boats came under attack in Hormozgan province on Iran's southern coast and that several fishermen were reported missing, citing a provincial official.

Hawkins said that the drone involved is a "Saildrone" - a small, roughly 25-foot (8-meter) craft - that can operate by itself. US Central Command has been using them in the region for several years to surveil maritime traffic.

Hawkins said all of the command's surface drones "remain fully accounted for." The military has long asserted that the technology on the Saildrones is commercially available and not sensitive in nature.

The latest drone incident, which was reported earlier by Axios, comes a week after Iranian state television reported that the country's navy captured one of the US military's underwater drones at the entrance to the Strait of Hormuz.

Hawkins said then that an Anduril Dive-LD drone had malfunctioned while it was surveying the waters in the region and that the US military no longer had possession of it. He stressed that the drone was defective and noted that it was also an "older model that neither collected sensitive data no carried any classified sonar or radar equipment."

A US military task force is working to enhance intelligence sharing and planning assistance for Saudi forces, a US official said, as the kingdom faces attacks from Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels.

US Central Command "has a task force in place for enhancing intelligence sharing and planning support with Saudi forces," the official said on condition of anonymity, adding that the military command "maintains a strong security alliance with our Saudi partners in confronting regional challenges."

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said that he would meet his Chinese counterpart He Lifeng this weekend for talks including on Iran sanctions, days before both countries' top leaders are due to convene.

Asked about efforts to prevent Tehran's workarounds of US sanctions amid war with Iran in the Middle East, Bessent told lawmakers that Washington's warnings have been heard.

"We have sanctioned three banks. With China, we have had some very good private discussions, and I look forward to those continuing this weekend when I meet my Chinese counterpart Vice (Premier) He Lifeng," Bessent told the House Financial Services Committee.

"I'm sure it will continue during President Xi's state visit," he added.

Chinese President Xi Jinping is expected to visit Washington on September 24 and meet with US President Donald Trump.

Observers have expected that Bessent and He would meet in mid-September to set the stage for Trump and Xi's gathering.

The US and Jordan have launched Eager Lion 2026, a two-week military exercise at Fort Carson in Colorado involving more than 200 personnel. The 12th edition focuses on counterterrorism, air defence, maritime security, cyber operations and disaster response. It is the first time the US is hosting the exercise, aimed at strengthening military cooperation and operational readiness between the two countries.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi called for free and secure navigation in the Red Sea during talks in Cairo, as the kingdom vowed to respond "firmly" to attacks by Yemen's Houthis.

The regional powers discussed the threat posed by the Iran-backed group's control over the Bab al-Mandab Strait, a key shipping route vital to both Saudi oil exports and Egypt's Suez Canal revenues.

They called for "ensuring the freedom and security of maritime navigation" through the straits of Hormuz and Bab al-Mandab, the Egyptian presidency said, adding that Sisi affirmed Egypt's support for measures taken by the kingdom "to protect its security and stability".

Qatar has warned that any disruption to navigation through the Bab Al Mandeb Strait, alongside the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, could have “catastrophic” consequences, stressing that the blocking of international waterways must not become “the new normal”.

“Blocking the waterway and international water corridors cannot be the new normal. And this cannot be acceptable either to Qatar or the international community,” Ibrahim bin Sultan Al-Hashmi, director of the Media and Communication Department at Qatar’s Foreign Ministry, said during the ministry’s weekly briefing.

“The world is suffering enough with the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, so we cannot also afford to add the Bab Al Mandeb into that equation,” Al-Hashmi said.

He said Qatar continues to advocate diplomacy, dialogue and peaceful solutions to regional conflicts, stressing that negotiations remain the only viable way forward.

Asked about efforts to bring Gulf countries and Iran together following the postponement of a planned regional meeting in Oman on the Strait of Hormuz, Al-Hashmi stressed the importance of freedom of navigation and the flow of commerce for Qatar and the international community.

“Efforts are underway. They haven't stopped and they will not,” he said, adding that the regional crisis would be a key issue for Qatar’s delegation at the upcoming UN General Assembly.

Oman said it was searching for two missing crew members who were aboard a tanker targeted in the Strait of Hormuz that was now being towed.

Vessels in the vital strait have come under repeated attack as Tehran seeks to maintain a stranglehold on the waterway in its war with the United States. Washington has also kept up a counterblockade of Iranian ports.

The Omani Maritime Security Centre said it was overseeing a towing operation for the Panama-flagged oil tanker ELGAIA to a port in Oman after a fire was extinguished in its engine room following an attack northeast of Musandam.

The centre, which is affiliated with Oman's ministry of defence, added in a statement on X that "a Royal Navy of Oman vessel evacuated 23 crew members from the tanker and provided them with the necessary medical care".

A search continues for two crew members who remain missing, it added.

Oman did not say when the ship was attacked.

However, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), a marine monitor, said a vessel had been on fire on Saturday after it was struck by an "unknown projectile" in the Strait of Hormuz.

British maritime security firm Vanguard Tech also reported that a Panama-flagged tanker had been struck that day and that the Omani navy was evacuating the crew.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) stated that India remains deeply concerned about escalation of the situation in the Red Sea region, amid latest strikes exchanged between Yemen's Houthi group and Saudi Arabia.

"Our External Affairs Minister (S Jaishankar) held a meeting with the Saudi Foreign Minister on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit. During the meeting, they discussed several issues, including regional and international developments. The issue of the Houthis was also discussed. There was recently an attack on Saudi Arabia, which we have condemned. We are also deeply concerned about the escalation of the situation in the Red Sea region," MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said during a bi-weekly media briefing in New Delhi.

"We have condemned attacks on Saudi sovereign territory, including those targeting civilian infrastructure and economic assets. Such attacks undermine regional stability and threaten freedom of navigation through the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait. These actions are obviously unacceptable to us. We hope for the early restoration of peace and stability in the region. We continue to receive energy supplies from that part of the world," he added.

Flaring fighting between government forces and Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen has displaced more than 100,000 people inside the country, while thousands more have fled abroad, the United Nations said.

The UN refugee agency warned in a statement that "rapidly escalating hostilities along Yemen's western coast have displaced more than 100,000 people inside the country and forced thousands more to seek safety across the Bab el-Mandeb Strait in Djibouti".

Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman arrived in Cairo on Tuesday for a working visit to Egypt, where he is scheduled to hold talks with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi.

El-Sisi received the Crown Prince at Cairo International Airport upon his arrival.

The visit was made at the direction of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman, according to a Royal Court statement issued earlier on Tuesday.

The Crown Prince and El-Sisi will discuss ways to strengthen bilateral relations and address issues of mutual interest, the Royal Court said.

The Egyptian presidency said the two leaders will hold official bilateral talks, followed by an expanded meeting attended by delegations from Saudi Arabia and Egypt.

The discussions will cover ways to strengthen Saudi-Egyptian cooperation across various fields, as well as regional and international developments of mutual interest.

El-Sisi will also host a luncheon in honour of the Crown Prince, according to the Egyptian presidency.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said that the search and rescue operations are continuing to find the missing Indian seafarer after a commercial vessel carrying 14 Indian nationals was attacked off the coast of Oman on Sunday.

"Regarding the missing seafarer, this attack happened off the coast of Oman. It was a Panama flagship on which we had 14 Indian nationals or seafarers, of whom 13 have been rescued, and we deeply thank the Omani authorities for rescuing our nationals. One Indian national is missing; the seafarer was on board. Search and rescue operations continue with the help of the Omani authorities," said Randhir Jaiswal, official spokesperson of the MEA, during a bi-weekly media briefing in New Delhi.

He said that the Indian embassy in Oman is closely monitoring the situation and proactively coordinating with the Omani authorities in the ongoing operation.

"Having said that, let me say that targeting of commercial shipping, targeting of seafarers civilians and civilian infrastructure in the region is unacceptable to us. We also urge that free and safe navigation and flow of commerce through international and national waterways in the region be restored at the earliest," the MEA spokesperson noted.

Sri Lanka's economic growth slowed to 4.2 percent in the second quarter, the statistics office said Tuesday, as the country grapples with fuel shortages and a tourism slump triggered by the Middle East conflict.

Import-dependent Sri Lanka has raised fuel prices by about 50 percent as the war, which broke out in February, caused a surge in global energy costs.

Growth in April to June had slowed compared to this year's first quarter, when the figure was at 5.1 percent, as well as year-on-year, down from 5.0 percent during the same period in 2025.

Qatar on Tuesday warned of dire consequences if the vital Bab al-Mandab waterway were to close, after a months-long blockade of the Strait of Hormuz and recent Houthi gains on the Red Sea coast.

"The world is suffering enough with the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, so we cannot also afford to add the Bab al-Mandab into that equation," Qatar foreign ministry official Ibrahim Al Hashmi told reporters.

He said a closure of the southern entrance to the Red Sea would be "catastrophic for the entire world. And we are already seeing the consequences... so Qatar is pushing for diplomacy, dialogue".

The Maritime Security Centre, in coordination with relevant authorities, is continuing operations to tow the oil tanker (ELGAIA), which flies the flag of the Republic of Panama, to a port in the Sultanate of Oman. This follows the extinguishing of a fire that broke out in the vessel's engine room after it came under attack earlier, at a location 1.3 nautical miles northeast of Musandam Governorate.

One of the Royal Navy of Oman's vessels carried out an evacuation of 23 members of the tanker's crew and provided them with the necessary medical care in coordination with the relevant health authorities. Search operations continue for two crew members who remain unaccounted for.

The UN Security Council is to meet Tuesday after Yemen's Iran-backed Houthis last week seized control of the country's Red Sea coast and the Bab al-Mandab Strait, diplomatic sources said.

France, which holds the presidency of the Security Council this month, requested the meeting to be held at 3 pm (1900 GMT) in New York, one of the sources said.

Bab al-Mandab is a vital shipping corridor linking Europe and Asia via the Red Sea that has become vital as the wider US-Iran war chokes the Strait of Hormuz.

Saudi Arabia on Tuesday issued brief alerts over possible attacks in the holy city of Mecca and in the Jeddah and Taif governorates, after the kingdom was repeatedly targeted by the Iran-backed Houthis in recent days.

The alerts, including the first one issued in Mecca since the Middle East war began, were quickly lifted, according to the Saudi civil defence. They came a day after a series of ballistic missile and drone attacks launched from Yemen, which injured 13 people in the kingdom's south.

The UK Maritime Trade Operations centre (UKMTO) has issued an attack warning (135-26) after receiving a delayed report of an incident in the Strait of Hormuz. A verified source reported that a vessel was struck by an unknown projectile on 14 September at 2040 UTC, with the warning issued the following day. UKMTO said no damage or environmental impact has been reported so far, and authorities are investigating. Vessels transiting the strait have been advised to exercise caution and report any suspicious activity.

Bahrain's Chief Prosecutor for Terrorism Crimes announced that the High Criminal Court has convicted a defendant of endorsing Iran's attacks on the kingdom, after he posted material on social media in support of the strikes. The court handed down a five-year prison sentence, a BD2,000 fine, and ordered the confiscation of seized items. The case originated from a Cybercrime Directorate report that flagged a social media account containing images, videos, and comments glorifying the attacks.

Average diesel prices in the United States struck a record high of just under $6.27 a gallon Tuesday, the motorists' association AAA said, pressuring President Donald Trump ahead of midterm congressional elections.

The price of the fuel used largely in road hauling, agriculture and construction hit $6.2694, according to the association, as the Middle East war tightens supplies and Ukraine strikes Russian refineries.

"The diesel and gas oil markets remain extremely tight," Arne Lohmann Rasmussen, chief analyst at Global Risk Management, said in a client note Tuesday. 

"A halt to Ukrainian attacks on Russian refineries would help the diesel balance, but the shortage of refined products from the Middle East matters far more," he said.

Average US diesel prices jumped above $6 a gallon for the first time on Friday, having surged from $3.7577 a gallon at the start of the US-Iran war, according to the AAA.

Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi will visit Beijing this week and meet with his counterpart Wang Yi, China's foreign ministry said on Tuesday.

The two men - who last met in July - will hold talks on Wednesday, the ministry said, as Beijing seeks to mediate in Iran's months-long war with the United States.

The Kingdom of Bahrain strongly condemned and denunced the terrorist attacks carried out by the Iran-backed Houthi terrorist militia using ballistic missiles and drones against the cities of Khamis Mushait, Abha and Taif in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, as part of its continued targeting of civilians and civilian objects. The attacks resulted in injuries to a number of civilians and material damage to several residential properties and vehicles. The Kingdom considered these attacks a flagrant violation of international law, international humanitarian law, the Charter of the United Nations and relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions.

In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs affirmed the Kingdom of Bahrain’s full solidarity with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and its full support for all necessary measures it takes to safeguard its sovereignty, security and stability, and to protect its citizens and residents in accordance with Article 51 of the Charter of the United Nations. It reaffirmed that the security and stability of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia are an integral part of the national security of the Kingdom of Bahrain, and wished those injured a speedy recovery.

A warning has been issued by the National Early Warning Platform in Khamis Mushait Governorate to alert of a potential danger. Residents are urged to remain calm and follow official instructions, immediately proceed to the nearest safe place inside a building or an interior room away from windows, and stay there until the danger has passed. They should not leave their home or building, should stay away from open areas, windows and glass, and should not stand on balconies or roofs.

Those outdoors should enter the nearest building or take shelter behind a solid barrier. People are asked to avoid crowds or dangerous areas and to refrain from taking photos. Anyone driving when the warning is received should pull over to the side of the road, away from bridges and high-rise buildings. Any danger noticed should be reported to the emergency number (911) in Makkah, Madinah, Riyadh and the Eastern Province, or (998) elsewhere in the Kingdom, and residents should follow instructions issued by the competent authorities through official channels.

Federal prosecutors in New York have filed a civil forfeiture complaint targeting approximately $61 million in cryptocurrency, alleging the funds are proceeds from black-market sales of sanctioned Iranian crude oil intended to finance Iran's government and military, including the IRGC.

Investigators say a network of interlinked cryptocurrency addresses, referred to in the complaint as "Entity A," has moved more than $1.5 billion in Iranian oil proceeds, funneling funds to IRGC-linked money services businesses and an Iranian cryptocurrency exchange.

Deputy US Attorney Sean S. Buckley said the action reflects efforts to cut off funding that Iran uses to "threaten the lives and safety of the citizens of the United States and elsewhere."

The FBI's New York Field Office led the investigation alongside the Justice Department's National Security and Criminal Divisions.

The complaint is a civil allegation only; the funds cannot be permanently forfeited unless a court rules in the government's favor.

A top Iranian security official said early on Tuesday that Iran will not negotiate with the United States unless its conditions are met.

Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council Mohsen Rezaei made the remarks in a post on social media platform X in response to US President Donald Trump's remarks on Monday, in which Trump claimed that Tehran wanted to make a deal "quickly and badly" and that Washington could resume negotiations with it.

"The failing Nation of Iran wants to make a deal, quickly and badly. I will determine whether or not the USA will choose to engage -- The concept of which we are open to," Trump wrote on Truth Social.

"Don't get distracted by the US president's mixed signals -- from 'no negotiations' to 'we're ready to talk.' The stakes around oil and the straits have changed. Damage control won't stop what's coming," Rezaei said.

"No talks until Iran's conditions are met. Period!" he stressed.

Gold prices held steady on Tuesday after touching a more than one-month low in the previous session, while investors geared up for the US Federal Reserve’s policy decision for clues on the future path of monetary policy.

Spot gold was little changed at $4,300.96 per ounce, as of 01:57 GMT, after hitting its lowest point since 7th August on Monday.

US gold futures were down 0.3 percent at $4,341.10. Spot silver edged 0.1 percent higher to $63.28, platinum lost 0.1 percent at $1,757.46 and palladium fell 0.7 percent to $1,283.61.

The Defense Department's inspector general revealed Monday that the US is facing an ammunition shortfall from its war with Iran, with Operation Epic Fury costing an estimated $33.4 billion between February 28 and June 30, including $22.3 billion on expended munitions alone. The report cited strategic inventory shortfalls and industrial bottlenecks, and listed losses of four F-15s, one damaged F-35, seven damaged KC-135 tankers and up to 30 destroyed MQ-9 Reaper drones. Trump has downplayed the concerns, insisting the US has "virtually unlimited" ammo and is producing more weapons than ever. CNN has previously reported the US has nearly exhausted 80 percent of its THAAD interceptor stock.

Saudi Arabia warned Tuesday it will react "firmly" to Yemen's Houthis, after a series of attacks carried out by the pro-Iranian rebels using ballistic missiles and drones wounded 13 civilians in the country's south.

The Houthis have been engaged in renewed fighting with Saudi-backed government forces since Yemen's civil war reignited in July, when the group declared a maritime blockade on Riyadh and began targeting its ships in the Red Sea.

The group seized control of Yemen's Red Sea coast and the Bab al-Mandab Strait last week, which has become vital as the wider US-Iran war chokes the Strait of Hormuz, in a significant blow to Yemeni government forces.

Thirteen civilians were injured and several homes and vehicles damaged after Houthi missile and drone attacks struck three Saudi cities, the Coalition to Support Legitimacy in Yemen said early Tuesday. Coalition spokesman Major General Turki Al Maliki said the group launched ballistic missiles and drones at civilian areas in Khamis Mushait, Abha and Taif. The attacks left 13 people with minor to moderate injuries and damaged seven homes and two vehicles, he said, calling it part of an escalating Houthi campaign targeting civilians and civilian infrastructure.

Tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz is "showing signs of recovery", with very large crude carriers (VLCC) moving through the strategic waterway — in both directions and during daylight hours, according to maritime intelligence firm TankerTrackers.com.

In an update posted early on Tuesday (Sept. 15, 2026), the tracking site said its analysis of satellite imagery captured as of Sept. 14 showed "bi-directional daytime" traffic by VLCC supertankers in the strait.

Citing recent satellite data as of Sept. 14, 2026, the company also reported increased volumes of crude oil, liquefied natural gas (LNG) and liquefied petroleum gas. (LPG) being transferred between vessels through "ship-to-ship (STS) operations" in the Gulf of Oman, outside the Strait of Hormuz.

Concern over Iran’s nuclear program has intensified as the UN nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), said it had conducted "almost no inspections" in the country for more than six months, while tensions surrounding Hormuz deepened and Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthis claimed another attack on Saudi Arabia.

The US Treasury Department is escalating its financial campaign against Iran: now, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is asking people around the world to report businesses, banks and individuals allegedly helping Tehran evade sanctions or move money through the international financial system.

Bessent said the appeal is part of "Operation Economic Outcast", a campaign launched in August to cut what Washington calls the remaining financial lifelines sustaining the Iranian regime and its networks.

Bessent said people with actionable information could be eligible for a financial reward regardless of where they live or who employs them.

The claim by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) that a Panama-flagged oil tanker recently struck a naval mine in the Strait of Hormuz is false, according to the US military.

In a post, the Central Command, claimed that the Panama-flagged crude oil tanker El Gaia was struck by an Iranian missile last month and "rendered inoperable".

"This weekend, Iran struck the tanker again with a drone while the ship sat in waters of the coast of Oman. The tanker is currently being towed by a regional partner. The IRGC's false claim is yet another example of their lies and intimidation attempts while they try to impede commercial vessels in the strait."

Brent crude traded near $105.70 a barrel Tuesday as Gulf Arab states postponed talks with Iran on reopening the Strait of Hormuz and Saudi Arabia launched retaliatory strikes against Yemen’s Houthi movement, adding to fears of a wider regional conflict and prolonged disruption to global oil supplies.

The planned meeting in Oman between Iran and Gulf Cooperation Council states had been expected to address a proposed temporary route for commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, the vital oil chokepoint that carried about one-fifth of global oil exports before the war. The postponement of the Oman talks leaves no clear timetable for a regional agreement on shipping. Iran has said that an arrangement with Oman would not automatically reopen Hormuz, insisting that broader demands, including those related to the U.S. naval blockade, must first be met.

A supertanker caught fire after striking naval mines while attempting to pass through a restricted area south of the Strait of Hormuz, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said in a statement carried by semi-official Fars news agency.

The IRGC Navy identified the vessel as the “El Gaia” and said efforts to contain the blaze had failed, leaving the ship fully engulfed in flames.

The IRGC said warnings had been issued about the risks of using the route and reiterated that the Strait of Hormuz remains under its surveillance and control.

Day 199: Trump says 'open' to engaging with Iran

Day 198: Saudi pipeline attack, Yemen crisis add to regional tensions

Day 197: Saudi Arabia shuts pipeline after attacks as Houthis seize Yemen's Red Sea coast

Day 196: Iranian strikes hit US aircraft in Jordan

Day 195: Iran Guards say target unmanned US sea drone in Hormuz

Day 194: Iran Guards say war can end if US halts threats, meets demands

Day 193: IRGC Navy warns tanker crews near Kuwait, Bahrain