Israel’s energy minister reveals Gulf Arab states in talks with Jerusalem for opening a land-based corridor running through Israel to circumvent the Strait of Hormuz.

By World Israel News Staff

Israel and several Gulf states have held a series of discreet talks aimed at creating an energy corridor through Israeli territory that would allow regional oil and natural gas exports to bypass both the Strait of Hormuz and the Houthi-threatened Bab el-Mandeb Strait, Israeli Energy and Infrastructure Minister Eli Cohen told Israel Hayom.

The meetings have taken place in Israel and abroad in recent weeks, Cohen said. Unnamed Gulf diplomats confirmed that the discussions included both near-term arrangements using existing infrastructure and longer-term plans requiring the construction of new pipelines.

The US administration is also participating in the talks, according to the report, as Washington seeks to reduce Iran’s ability to use control of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz as leverage over Gulf countries and global energy markets.

No participating Gulf governments were identified, and none has publicly announced an agreement with Israel.

One of the immediate proposals would use Saudi Arabia’s western oil infrastructure to send crude from the port of Yanbu, on the Red Sea, to Eilat.

The oil would then be unloaded and pumped across Israel through the Europe Asia Pipeline Company’s existing line to Ashkelon, where it could be loaded onto tankers bound for Europe and other Mediterranean destinations.

The longer-term proposal calls for new pipelines connecting Gulf producers to the Jordanian port of Aqaba and then onward to Eilat. From there, the oil could enter the existing Israeli pipeline network and reach the Mediterranean without passing through either Hormuz or Bab el-Mandeb.

“In my view, the Israeli route for a pipeline to the Mediterranean is the ideal option,” Cohen told Israel Hayom. “Unlike other alternatives that have been proposed, such as a route through Syria, Israel would be capable of protecting such a corridor.”

“In the long term, a route of this kind would lower energy prices by creating competition with other routes, including those running from Azerbaijan and Iraq to Turkey,” he added.

Cohen said the war with Iran had demonstrated that Gulf governments require alternatives not only for oil and gas shipments but also for broader commercial trade. He estimated that the development of alternative corridors could substantially diminish Iran’s leverage over Hormuz within four to five years.

The energy minister publicly floated a similar plan in July, saying he had proposed to US officials the construction of a roughly 700-kilometer pipeline from Saudi Arabia to Eilat.

“The Gulf countries do not want to be dependent on either Iran or the Houthis in Yemen when it comes to their oil exports, which are their primary source of income,” Cohen told Reuters at the time.

“If you create a land route, you bypass both Iran and the Houthis,” he said. “The best route is through the State of Israel.”

Israel already possesses much of the central infrastructure needed for such a corridor. The Europe Asia Pipeline Company operates a 42-inch, approximately 254-kilometer pipeline connecting the oil ports of Eilat and Ashkelon. The system can transport crude between the Red Sea and Mediterranean, although substantial new construction would still be needed to connect it directly with Saudi Arabia, Jordan or other Gulf producers.

Cohen discussed the broader regional project Tuesday with Greek Environment and Energy Minister Stavros Papastavrou. Their conversation covered alternative energy routes, developments in the Middle East and the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor, or IMEC, which was designed to connect India with Europe through the Gulf, Jordan and Israel.

The Israeli Energy Ministry said a Gulf-Israel-Mediterranean route would be faster and less expensive than competing alternatives. The ministry claimed the project could bring extensive infrastructure investment and employment to Israel while generating potentially enormous transit and commercial revenues.

The Israeli proposal is emerging as Gulf countries accelerate their own efforts to reduce their dependence on Hormuz.

Saudi Arabia is considering adding as much as 2 million barrels per day of capacity to its East-West oil pipeline, which carries crude from fields in the east of the kingdom to the Red Sea. Preliminary discussions have included the possibility that neighboring countries could also use the expanded system.

The United Arab Emirates, meanwhile, is accelerating work on a pipeline intended to double the amount of crude it can export through Fujairah, located outside the Strait of Hormuz. The project is expected to become operational in 2027, although Israel Hayom reported that Emirati officials are seeking an earlier launch by the end of 2026.

Those existing bypass options remain unevenly distributed. Saudi Arabia and the UAE possess operational pipelines capable of rerouting substantial crude volumes, but Iraq, Kuwait, Qatar and Bahrain remain heavily dependent on shipping through Hormuz. Qatar faces particular exposure because nearly all of its liquefied natural gas exports must leave the Gulf by sea.

The urgency has grown as traffic through Hormuz remains far below its prewar level. Ship-tracking data recorded only eight vessel transits Tuesday, compared with approximately 130 to 140 daily crossings before the war began in February. Traffic through Bab el-Mandeb has also been disrupted by repeated Houthi attacks and threats against commercial shipping.

Israel is competing with several proposed routes that would exclude it. Those plans include pipelines running from southern Iraq through Syria to the Mediterranean, as well as corridors connecting Gulf oil infrastructure to Jordan and Egypt. Turkey and Qatar have supported some of the competing projects, while US and Qatari companies are reportedly considering investments in Iraqi and Syrian infrastructure.

An Iraqi proposal would carry oil from Basra to Haditha before dividing into northern and western branches, including a potential line to Syria’s Mediterranean port of Baniyas. Another proposed route would take Iraqi oil to Aqaba and then through Egypt’s existing Red Sea-to-Mediterranean pipeline system.

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Axios reported Iran and Oman would jointly manage separate inbound and outbound shipping lanes.

By World Israel News Staff

President Donald Trump announced that negotiations to reopen the Strait of Hormuz were progressing rapidly, saying he expects the strategically vital waterway to reopen soon while warning that the United States is prepared to use military force if diplomacy fails.

“The Strait of Hormuz will open very soon,” Trump told Fox News. He stressed that if the critical maritime passageway is not reopened, Iran “will be hit very hard.”

Trump said the negotiations intensified after Iranian officials reached out to Washington, describing marathon talks that continued throughout Tuesday.

Trump stressed that negotiations over reopening the Strait had been held in a marathon, all-day format on Tuesday after the Iranians called Trump and “asked very politely, ‘Please, can we talk?'”

He added that “we are having very good discussions with the Iranians, we will know where we stand within 48 hours.”

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent also expressed optimism that an agreement was close, suggesting negotiators were making significant progress toward restoring commercial shipping through one of the world’s busiest energy corridors.

Bessent stressed that there is “chance we may have a deal today or tomorrow to open the strait and move towards a more normalised position in this conflict,” he told CNBC.

“It would be freedom of movement,” he added, when asked whether Iran would be allowed to charge for ships passing through.

An Axios report revealed additional details of the proposed agreement, including a framework that would divide responsibility for managing maritime traffic between Iran and neighboring Oman.

Under the reported terms, all inbound commercial shipping entering the Persian Gulf through the Strait of Hormuz would travel in a northern shipping lane passing through Iranian territorial waters.

Outbound vessels heading toward the Arabian Sea would use a southern lane passing through Omani territorial waters, with the arrangement requiring coordination between the two neighboring countries.

The report also said that no tolls or transit fees would be charged during the agreement’s first 60 days, ensuring unrestricted passage for commercial shipping while confidence-building measures are implemented.

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Iran and Oman are expected to jointly announce the arrangement, which would allow maritime traffic to resume through the strait.

By Vered Weiss, World Israel News

The United States and Iran have made progress toward an agreement to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, with Iran and the mediator, Oman, expected to jointly announce a deal in the coming hours that would restore commercial shipping through the strategic waterway, Al Arabiya reported.

The reported breakthrough follows what Al Arabiya described as U.S.-Iran contacts continuing at an “intensive pace,” along with positive indications that an agreement could reduce regional tensions.

Iran and Oman are expected to jointly announce the arrangement, which would allow maritime traffic to resume through the strait.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed that negotiations have advanced, saying, “There has been progress in the talks with Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.” He added, “There are ships moving through the strait. Oil is now flowing through the strait. The strait is open.”

Rubio said that while the United States’ long-term objective remains dismantling Iran’s nuclear program, the immediate focus is lifting the naval blockade.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent also expressed optimism that a final agreement could be reached within hours.

He said the expected deal would guarantee freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz and contribute to stability in global energy markets, adding that hundreds of ships are currently waiting to transit the waterway.

Al Arabiya reported that the emerging framework would establish a new mechanism to regulate maritime traffic while dividing shipping lanes between the Iranian and Omani coastlines.

The proposal remains the subject of disagreements. Iranian officials have reportedly argued that “service fees” would be charged to provide security for vessels and address environmental consequences.

U.S. officials have disputed that claim, saying no future agreement would allow Iran to collect payments or require commercial vessels to obtain Iranian approval before transiting the international waterway.

President Donald Trump said in recent days that the Strait of Hormuz could reopen soon, while emphasizing that any agreement must guarantee complete freedom of navigation and must not give Iran control over the international shipping route.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry denied holding direct talks with the United States but confirmed that indirect negotiations are continuing through regional mediators.

The diplomatic activity comes as security incidents continue in the Strait of Hormuz, including damage to a cargo ship from an unconfirmed source and additional attacks targeting commercial vessels.

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Former IRGC commander Mohsen Rezaee warned Iran won’t tolerate another passage carved through the Hormuz waterway, cautioning that U.S. naval forces risk severe retaliation if the blockade persists.

Former IRGC Commander-in-Chief Mohsen Rezaee: Iran Will Not Allow a Second Corridor Through the Strait of Hormuz to Be Opened; American Ships and Bases Are in "Great Danger"; We Will Not Sit Idly by While America's Naval Blockade Continues; Ukrainian Attack on Iranian Ship Will… pic.twitter.com/L6LE3xuSDx

— MEMRI (@MEMRIReports) August 4, 2026

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Washington warns the reported Hormuz deal could undermine longstanding principles of maritime freedom worldwide.

By World Israel News Staff

Iran and neighboring Oman are reportedly in the final stages of negotiating an agreement that would divide responsibility for commercial maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, according to a report by The New York Times.

If finalized, the arrangement would restore shipping volumes to near prewar levels but would also formalize a new system under which commercial vessels pay a “service fee” to transit the strategic waterway. The revenue generated from those fees would reportedly be split between Tehran and Muscat.

Before the outbreak of Operation Epic Fury in February 2026, commercial ships passed through the Strait of Hormuz without paying transit fees. Although the waterway is governed by international maritime law and lies in international waters, Iran has effectively asserted de facto control over shipping lanes during the conflict.

Since then, Iranian forces have repeatedly targeted vessels that failed to coordinate with Tehran or pay the required transit fees, dramatically disrupting one of the world’s most important maritime chokepoints. The Strait of Hormuz carries a significant share of global oil and liquefied natural gas exports, making any disruption to navigation a matter of international concern.

Efforts led by the United States to restore unrestricted freedom of navigation have achieved only limited success. A U.S.-led mission established to escort commercial vessels through the strait without Iranian approval has struggled to prevent attacks and deter Iranian enforcement of the new system.

Against that backdrop, a senior Iranian official told the Times that negotiations with Oman are nearing completion. According to the report, the agreement would see the two countries jointly administer maritime traffic while sharing the revenue collected from the newly imposed service fees.

Speaking recently at a meeting with Southeast Asian leaders, Secretary of State Marco Rubio cautioned that accepting such an arrangement could encourage other countries to assert similar control over international waterways.

“If we create a precedent in the Middle East where a nation-state can decide that they are going to control an international waterway, charge a toll and, if you don’t pay them, blow up your ships, we have created a very dangerous precedent, which will repeat itself in other parts of the world,” Rubio said.

“What is at stake here is not simply the issue of what is happening in the Strait of Hormuz; it’s a very fundamental principle about freedom of navigation,” he added, according to the Times.

Rubio further warned that “the rules which have underpinned 150 years of international trade and commerce are also threatened, and that cannot be allowed to happen.”

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Iran was fully prepared to launch missile strikes on three targets in Ukraine before abruptly calling off the operation after receiving what a senior adviser to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei described as an “apology” from Kyiv.

The claim follows Tehran’s accusation that Ukraine attacked an Iranian commercial vessel in the Caspian Sea, killing a crew member. Iran has since demanded compensation from Kyiv.

The adviser also issued a fresh warning over the Strait of Hormuz, declaring that any vessel using what Iran considers an unauthorized route could be targeted, signaling Tehran remains prepared to escalate despite ongoing diplomatic efforts.

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Israel was reportedly set to join a massive US military strike on Iran before President Donald Trump abruptly called off the operation after urgent appeals from Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE, which argued a breakthrough in negotiations was imminent.

According to N12 News, Israeli officials told Washington the operation would only be worthwhile if it directly targeted the Iranian regime and crippled Tehran’s economic infrastructure, rather than carrying out limited military strikes.

Trump later revealed the attack would have been the largest US military operation since World War II, but said he chose to give diplomacy one last chance after Gulf leaders assured him a deal on reopening the Strait of Hormuz and curbing Iran’s nuclear program was within reach. He warned, however, that the military option remains ready if negotiations fail.

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The diplomatic push follows a decision by US President Donald Trump to halt a major planned military strike across Iran to grant space for political negotiations.

By Eliana Fleming, JFeed

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi agreed to a compromise framework drafted by the United States and Qatari mediators aimed at reopening the Strait of Hormuz, following indirect diplomatic talks held overnight.

Under the proposed framework, vessels entering the Persian Gulf would navigate through Iranian territorial waters, while outbound ships would use maritime routes managed by Oman.

The spatial arrangement grants Iran de facto authority to collect transit fees from all inbound commercial vessels entering the strategic waterway.

Control over inbound lanes provides Tehran with legal leverage to detain ships that refuse to pay required transit tariffs before navigating deeper into the gulf.

Diplomatic sources confirmed that Omani officials agreed to the proposed navigation scheme but requested formal clarification from Tehran regarding whether Araghchi’s position carries the full backing of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

Qatari mediators remain in contact with Iranian officials to verify regime-wide support for the understandings.

Short hours after details emerged, officials in Tehran denied that a binding resolution had been reached, revealing strategic divisions within the Iranian leadership.

A source close to the Iranian negotiating team stated directly, “There is no agreement whatsoever regarding the opening of the Strait of Hormuz, and the published reports on the matter are false.”

An Iranian military source further emphasized the security establishment’s regime-wide regarding naval transit rules across the region.

“As long as the US continues its aggressive actions, the Strait of Hormuz will remain blocked, and the passage of vessels will only be possible along designated routes and with the permission of the Revolutionary Guard naval force,” the military official stated.

The diplomatic push follows a decision by US President Donald Trump to halt a major planned military strike across Iran to grant space for political negotiations.

Trump made clear that canceling the strikes depended on securing a rapid final agreement, stating to involved parties, “Go to work, everyone, and finish it.”

Trump reached the decision after consultation with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who expressed deep concern regarding escalation, as initial signals indicated Iranian willingness to settle navigation disputes.

However, the proposed arrangement conflicts directly with policy positions maintained by European allies, including Britain and France, which hold that transit fees in international straits remain entirely unacceptable.

According to diplomatic assessments provided to Axios, international shipping consortiums are reviewing security protocols to determine whether proposed Iranian toll checkpoints comply with established international maritime law.

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Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu proposed a solution to Iran’s hold on the Strait of Hormuz, suggesting entirely bypassing the waterway and instead routing oil through pipelines to the Red Sea and Mediterranean.

Netanyahu:

After this war is over, I don’t think the Straits are going to be that powerful a leverage, because people will move the energy pipelines out of the Straits to the Red Sea, from there to Israel and the Mediterranean.

We can unblock this choke point, and we will.… pic.twitter.com/3bh93dE7jm

— Clash Report (@clashreport) July 30, 2026

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US Central Command (CENTCOM) has revealed the full scale of the American military force enforcing the blockade of Iranian ports, saying it has redirected 20 commercial vessels, disabled two, and boarded two as Washington tightens its grip on Tehran.

A newly released CENTCOM graphic shows the operation is backed by aircraft carriers, destroyers, fighter jets, surveillance drones, and US Marines, underscoring America’s ability to stop ships bound for Iran while keeping the Strait of Hormuz open to global commerce.

The blockade, reimposed after Iran violated a US-Iran understanding, marks one of Washington’s most aggressive moves against Tehran, aiming to choke off Iran’s maritime access without disrupting international shipping.

CENTCOM reveals massive force enforcing blockade of Iranian ports (CENTCOM/X)

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Tehran insists exclusive control of the shipping lane is essential, despite growing diplomatic frustration.

By World Israel News Staff

Iran has reportedly rejected an Omani proposal to jointly oversee commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, insisting instead that it seeks exclusive control over the strategic waterway — a stance that has reportedly frustrated countries attempting to revive the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) governing regional tensions.

According to a Wall Street Journal report, negotiators working to salvage the fragile agreement have grown increasingly frustrated with Tehran’s refusal to compromise over the future administration of one of the world’s most important maritime chokepoints.

The proposed Omani initiative would have divided responsibility for the Strait of Hormuz between the two neighboring countries. Under the plan, both Iran and Oman would oversee commercial traffic and share revenue generated from tolls imposed on vessels transiting the passage.

However, Iranian officials reportedly dismissed the proposal almost immediately.

“We said that this does not solve Iran’s concerns,” Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said, describing Tehran’s response to the proposal.

Instead, Tehran has demanded that it receive primary authority over the strait.

“The inbound shipping lane must be entirely under Iran’s control, while part of the outbound lane may remain under Oman’s control,” Gharibabadi told the Journal. “If they accept this proposal, we will move on to the next stage.”

Gharibabadi said Iran “does not plan to negotiate with the United States” regarding the future administration of the waterway, signaling that Tehran intends to deal directly with regional actors rather than engage in broader talks with Washington.

The dispute extends beyond control of the shipping lanes themselves. The Omani proposal reportedly envisions commercial vessels paying tolls to transit the Strait of Hormuz — a major departure from the long-standing system under which international shipping passed freely through the waterway prior to the outbreak of Operation Epic Fury in late February 2026.

That aspect of the proposal has also generated opposition from the United States. American officials have repeatedly stated that they oppose any arrangement requiring commercial shipping to pay transit fees through the strait, arguing that freedom of navigation is a fundamental principle of international maritime law.

Iran, however, has made clear that it has no intention of returning to the previous status quo.

Gharibabadi stressed that the Strait of Hormuz “will never return to its pre-war state.”

Should commercial shipping eventually resume without tolls, Iran’s “success” in the conflict would be “incomplete,” he added.

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Footage shows an Iranian suicide drone homing in on a tanker transiting the Strait of Hormuz, as the crew ducks for cover moments before it strikes the ship.

האיראנים ממשיכים להשתולל. כטב"ם איראני פוגע הבוקר בספינת סוחר במיצרי הורמוז. מה קורה כאן? איפה "המערב"? טראמפ כבר התעורר? pic.twitter.com/0iEiwBLPNh

— מה חדש. What's new (@Gloz111) July 27, 2026

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The incident directly tests recent ultimatums issued by U.S. President Donald Trump regarding the security of international shipping lanes.

By Ariel Sharfer and Srugim, JFeed

Iranian social media channels and state news agency Tasnim reported that an oil tanker was struck and severely damaged, or outright disabled, by an Iranian sea mine while attempting to exit the Strait of Hormuz.

Iranian officials claimed the vessel deviated onto an “unapproved route” that was not coordinated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

This incident follows recent announcements by IRGC commanders confirming extensive mining operations along southern maritime corridors near Oman, with officials reiterating that the strait remains an integral part of Iran’s national security zone.

Escalating Maritime Threats

The incident directly tests recent ultimatums issued by U.S. President Donald Trump regarding the security of international shipping lanes.

Just days ago, Trump warned that any Iranian attack on vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, whether executed via missiles, rockets, drones, or other weaponry, would trigger immediate American strikes destroying bridges or power plants inside Iran, including targets near or within Tehran.

In response, Iranian officials threatened to sever electricity grids across American allies in the region if U.S. forces targeted their power infrastructure.

Financial Consequences Ahead

Two days after his initial military warning, President Trump issued a secondary financial threat, declaring that any future damage inflicted on commercial shipping would be compensated directly using Iranian funds frozen under U.S. control.

Trump emphasized that these damage payouts could be substantial, describing the measure as both fair and necessary.

Observers and regional powers are now watching closely to see whether the White House will deliver on either its military or financial retaliation following this latest naval disruption.

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U.S. forces have redirected 12 vessels, disabled two, and boarded two to enforce the Iran blockade, most recently completing a verification boarding and disabling another ship attempting to breach it.

The U.S. naval blockade against Iran remains in full effect. As of July 25, CENTCOM has redirected 12 commercial vessels trying to run the blockade, disabled 2 that didn't comply, and boarded 2 to ensure total compliance.

Earlier today, U.S. forces completed a verification… pic.twitter.com/eyp1N2B9sO

— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) July 25, 2026

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The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps subsequently claimed it had prevented three oil tankers from transiting the Strait of Hormuz, asserting that the strategic chokepoint was under its control.

By JNS

U.S. Central Command completed its 13th consecutive night of strikes against Iran on Thursday night, targeting military command centers, drone storage facilities, communications networks, coastal surveillance sites and maritime capabilities.

The strikes were aimed at further reducing Iran’s ability to threaten civilian mariners and commercial shipping transiting the Strait of Hormuz, CENTCOM said in a statement released early Friday.

“The international waterway remains open for transit despite recent attacks from Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps,” the command said. “Commercial vessels continue to freely navigate the strait with U.S. military support.”

CENTCOM added that more than 50,000 U.S. service members are currently operating across the Middle East.

The latest operation follows nearly two weeks of sustained U.S. military action against Iranian targets after Tehran escalated attacks on commercial shipping in the strategic waterway.

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz warned on Thursday that Iran would suffer a “crushing blow” if it attacks the Jewish state, following a high-level security assessment with the country’s top military leadership.

“We are preparing for every possibility. If Iran attacks Israel, it will absorb a crushing blow,” Katz said, according to a statement from his office.

The meeting included IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir, Defense Ministry Director General Maj. Gen. (res.) Amir Baram, Israeli Air Force commander Maj. Gen. Tomer Bar, the heads of the IDF Operations Directorate, Intelligence Directorate and Planning Directorate, Home Front Command chief Maj. Gen. Rafi Milo and other senior defense officials.

On Thursday, CENTCOM said its forces had completed a 12th consecutive night of strikes, targeting maritime capabilities, missile and drone storage facilities, coastal surveillance sites and air-defense assets.

“The strikes further degrade Iran’s ability to attack civilian mariners and commercial vessels,” the U.S. military said.

Earlier this month, the United States said it had struck dozens of Iranian military sites and resumed a naval blockade of the Islamic Republic, redirecting commercial vessels and preventing others from entering or departing Iranian ports.

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps subsequently claimed it had prevented three oil tankers from transiting the Strait of Hormuz, asserting that the strategic chokepoint was under its control.

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that Iran was “getting hit so hard” and would soon be ready to negotiate with Washington.

“They want to make a deal,” Trump said at a rally in Georgia. “But I say they’re not ready to make a deal because every time they make a deal, they want to change it.”

Trump warned that the United States would strike critical Iranian infrastructure if Tehran continued attacking vessels in the Strait of Hormuz.

“From this point forward, any time the Islamic Republic of Iran shoots at a ship in the Strait of Hormuz, whether it be by missile, rocket, drone or another device or weapon, the United States will bomb and destroy one bridge or power plant, including those located next to, or in, the capital city of Tehran,” he wrote on Truth Social.

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Middle East on edge as Trump nears decision on massive Iran strike

World Israel News Staff

Iran has threatened to strike Tel Aviv if US President Donald Trump orders a new wave of attacks on Tehran, as Trump revealed he is “close to making a decision” on what he called a “massive attack. Bigger than ever before.” Trump told Axios the US is fully prepared, adding that Israel “would join in two minutes if I ask them to,” though he insisted Washington does not need Israeli assistance.

According to The New York Times, Iranian officials warned they would retaliate by targeting Tel Aviv and directing the Iran-backed Houthi terrorists in Yemen to blockade the Bab al-Mandab Strait if the US expands its offensive. Tehran also reportedly rejected a US-backed ceasefire proposal delivered by Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi, insisting any agreement must resolve the future of the Strait of Hormuz.

Israel, meanwhile, signaled it is preparing for another round of fighting. Bomb shelters were opened across the country as tensions escalated, while IDF spokesperson Lt. Col. Ella Waweya said the military is in “full readiness” for combat with Iran, stressing that the lessons of October 7 mean Israel will no longer wait to absorb the first blow. Defense Minister Israel Katz echoed the warning, saying, “If Iran attacks Israel, it will suffer a crushing blow,” amid Western intelligence assessments that Tehran may seek to drag Israel back into the conflict.

Trump also warned that the US will use seized Iranian assets to compensate ships damaged in Gulf attacks, prompting Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi to denounce the move as “incendiary” and warn it could set a dangerous global precedent for the confiscation of state assets.

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