Iran's Revolutionary Guards fired warning shots and turned back six vessels attempting to transit outside designated routes in the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday, enforcing what Tehran insists remains a closed waterway. Fighting between Iran and the United States has been on hold since July 25, and Brent crude fell more than 7%, briefly dropping below $90 a barrel.
Tehran ruled out resuming direct talks with Washington, though mediators remain active. The Iranian foreign ministry said the US was not involved in recent discussions with Oman over operational mechanisms for safe shipping through the strait, which has been under Iranian control since late February. Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei criticised Washington's conduct as resembling "that of a mafia gang".
Tensions remain elevated on multiple fronts. Iran warned of unforeseen consequences after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Kyiv targeted vessels carrying Iranian-linked military cargo in the Caspian Sea, an attack Tehran said killed a sailor. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia intercepted drones launched from Iraq targeting oil facilities, and recent US strikes damaged water infrastructure in southern Iran, disrupting supplies for roughly 120,000 people.