mutation! The US military launches an attack! Strait of Hormuz closed, crude oil prices surge
Tensions in the Middle East escalated again over the weekend! In the early morning of the 12th local time, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps announced that it would close the Strait of Hormuz to no ships. Subsequently, the U.S. military said it was launching an attack on Iran. Immediately afterwards, explosions were heard in many places in Iran. Affected by the situation, the crude oil black market soared. As of press time, New York crude oil prices rose 3.27% in the black market, and Brent crude oil prices rose 3.10% in the black market. Cryptocurrencies, seen as an indicator of market risk appetite, plunged again.
Tensions in the Middle East escalated again over the weekend! In the early morning of the 12th local time, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps announced that it would close the Strait of Hormuz to no ships. Subsequently, the U.S. military said it was launching an attack on Iran. Immediately afterwards, explosions were heard in many places in Iran. Affected by the situation, the crude oil black market soared. As of press time, New York crude oil prices rose 3.27% in the black market, and Brent crude oil prices rose 3.10% in the black market. Cryptocurrencies, seen as an indicator of market risk appetite, plunged again. As of press time, XLM has fallen by more than 4%, Solana and Dogecoin have fallen by more than 2%, and Bitcoin and Ethereum have fallen by 0.60%. According to CoinGlass statistics, in the past 24 hours, a total of 58,200 people around the world have been liquidated, with the total liquidation amount exceeding US$100 million. US military launches attack on Iran According to CCTV News, the U.S. Central Command stated on the 11th local time that at 7:15 pm Eastern Time that night, the U.S. military began its third round of strikes against Iran this week. The statement stated that previously, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards attacked a Cyprus-registered container ship sailing in the Strait of Hormuz. The attack left one crew member missing, a fire broke out on board, the engine room was severely damaged, and the ship was unable to continue sailing. According to Iranian news on the 12th local time, explosions were heard in Bushehr, Asaluyeh, and Dir Port in southern Iran. In addition, some people reported that in the early morning of that day, multiple explosions were heard in parts of Bushehr Province, Iran, including Bushehr City, Kengan and Dir. It is not yet clear where the explosion occurred. As of now, official agencies have not issued a notification on this. According to other Iranian sources, three explosions were heard in Bandar Abbas Port in southern Iran, two explosions were heard in Sirik, and two explosions were heard in Chabahar in the southeastern Sistan-Baluchestan Province. Later, there was news from Iran that the explosion in Chabahar was caused by the US military's attack on the area near Konark. On July 11, local time, a U.S. official stated that U.S. negotiators did not go to Oman to participate in negotiations with Iran. The official said the U.S. technical team will not be present in Oman but will remain in contact with Oman and Qatar as the situation develops. According to U.S. sources, a senior U.S. official said on July 10 that negotiations would resume in Oman, but did not specify whether the U.S. team would be present in person. Another U.S. official said that the United States originally expected Iran to publicly say after the talks that it would stop attacking ships in the Strait of Hormuz, but according to Iranian sources, Iran has not made such a commitment. Iranian sources said that Omani and Iranian officials discussed the "safe passage mechanism for ships" and emphasized that Oman advocates "preventing the escalation of regional tensions through diplomacy." On the 11th local time, Iran’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Irawani warned that if the United States continues to violate its obligations, Iran will no longer abide by the memorandum of understanding signed with the United States. Strait of Hormuz closed According to Xinhua News Agency, the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy announced in the early morning of the 12th that the Strait of Hormuz will be closed from now on, and no ships will be allowed to pass. The statement said that Iran had previously announced that any interference by foreign forces in the affairs of the Strait of Hormuz and illegal demarcation of ship routes would result in a "firm response" from Iran. In view of the unsafe situation caused by illegal interference by foreign forces, the Strait of Hormuz will be closed with immediate effect until further notice and until the United States ceases its interference in this area. The statement said that a few hours ago, several ships attempted to sail along a route not approved by Iran and ignored Iran's prompts and warnings to correct their course. One of the ships shut down its automatic identification system and was hit by an Iranian warning shot and stopped sailing. The statement also warned that if the United States uses this incident as an excuse to launch new attacks on Iran, Iran will respond violently and attack more U.S. bases in the Middle East. According to a CCTV News report on the 12th, according to Oman’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Oman and Iran have agreed to continue consultations at the technical and political levels. In addition, Oman has drafted a plan to manage ship traffic in the Strait of Hormuz through two separately managed waterways, according to a source familiar with the negotiations.
It was revealed that under the agreement, which has not yet been finalized, both waterways will remain open. Among them, the southern channel passing through Oman’s territorial waters will be free to navigate in accordance with pre-war conditions. Vessels passing through the Northern Sea Route in Iran's territorial waters need to obtain prior approval from Iran, but will not be charged tolls under the agreement. According to a diplomatic source familiar with the matter, Qatari officials also participated in relevant consultations held in Muscat that day. At the same time, regional sources revealed that all parties participating in the meeting are discussing the issuance of a statement, which may involve the full opening of the "Central Channel" in the Strait of Hormuz in international waters to ensure the full and free passage of ships. The information disclosed by the above-mentioned people has not been confirmed by the officials of Oman, Iran and Qatar. On July 11, local time, Iran released satellite images claiming that an Iranian missile hit a U.S. military base in Jordan. Iranian sources said that satellite images showed that the Muwafak Sarti Air Force Base in Jordan was hit after the United States repeatedly violated the ceasefire. Images show that at least two facilities in the base were hit by missiles. It is said that the US military fighter aircraft hangar was destroyed, but it is not clear what equipment was stored in the hangar at the time. Iran said that the United States and Jordan had previously stated that all incoming targets had been intercepted. On the 9th local time, the base where the US military was deployed in Muwafak Sarti, Jordan, was targeted. The Jordanian government said in a statement that the country's military had intercepted missiles from Iran and would continue to be prepared to safeguard national security. The Jordanian military said it intercepted eight missiles from Iran. (
It was revealed that under the agreement, which has not yet been finalized, both waterways will remain open. Among them, the southern channel passing through Oman’s territorial waters will be free to navigate in accordance with pre-war conditions. Vessels passing through the Northern Sea Route in Iran's territorial waters need to obtain prior approval from Iran, but will not be charged tolls under the agreement. According to a diplomatic source familiar with the matter, Qatari officials also participated in relevant consultations held in Muscat that day. At the same time, regional sources revealed that all parties participating in the meeting are discussing the issuance of a statement, which may involve the full opening of the "Central Channel" in the Strait of Hormuz in international waters to ensure the full and free passage of ships. The information disclosed by the above-mentioned people has not been confirmed by the officials of Oman, Iran and Qatar. On July 11, local time, Iran released satellite images claiming that an Iranian missile hit a U.S. military base in Jordan. Iranian sources said that satellite images showed that the Muwafak Sarti Air Force Base in Jordan was hit after the United States repeatedly violated the ceasefire. Images show that at least two facilities in the base were hit by missiles. It is said that the US military fighter aircraft hangar was destroyed, but it is not clear what equipment was stored in the hangar at the time. Iran said that the United States and Jordan had previously stated that all incoming targets had been intercepted. On the 9th local time, the base where the US military was deployed in Muwafak Sarti, Jordan, was targeted. The Jordanian government said in a statement that the country's military had intercepted missiles from Iran and would continue to be prepared to safeguard national security. The Jordanian military said it intercepted eight missiles from Iran. (