An explosion damaged a tanker close to its waterline as it sailed off Oman, a marine monitor said on Tuesday, as tensions remained high around the blockaded Strait of Hormuz. “The crew and vessel are safe, although the master reports some bunker fuel has discharged into the sea,” UK Maritime Trade Operations said. The incident, in the Gulf of Oman about 60 nautical miles east of Muscat, was an “external explosion”, UKMTO added, without detailing the cause of the blast. Iran has been laying mines...
Iran says diplomacy with the US remains open as Hormuz tensions deepen and outrage grows over Israel’s flotilla arrests.
Iran proposes Bitcoin-based ship insurance for the Strait of Hormuz, a move likely to raise global maritime concerns.
Australia’s trade minister will visit China in an effort to shore up fuel supplies that have run short this year because of bottlenecks in the Strait of Hormuz during the US–Israeli war in Iran. Australian Trade and Tourism Minister Don Farrell told a press conference that he would travel to China to meet Commerce Minister Wang Wentao, after a stop in Japan on Monday. “Very much the topic of the day will be how do we continue to ensure reliable fuel supplies into this country,” Farrell said,...
Hinting at UAE, Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi says “a neighbouring country that is also a member of the BRICS” is trying to scuttle a joint statement by seeking condemnation of Iran
Analysts say China is likely to ask for change in US policy towards Taiwan if it were to pressure Iran reopen Hormuz.