Oil supertankers in Gulf are renting for $500,000 per day: Report Supertanker owners are getting paid $510,000 per day to bring crude oil from the Gulf to Asia, in a sign of high demand for vessels to transit the waterway as fighting rages in the region and alternative routes take supply from the market

Traffic through Hormuz Strait shows no rise, data suggests Shipping traffic at the Strait of Hormuz did not rise, with a total of ninevessels transiting the strategic waterway on Wednesday - unchanged from the previous day,Kpler data showed.

Oil supertankers in Gulf are renting for $500,000 per day: Report Submitted by MEE staff on Wed, 08/19/2026 - 21:10 A fund that allows investors to bet on crude oil freight rates has surged more than 2,000 percent since the start of year In this picture, obtained from Iran's ISNA news agency and taken on 2 May 2026, the Gambia-flagged tanker Bili is anchored in the Strait of Hormuz off Bandar Abbas in southern Iran (Amirhossein Khorgooei/ISNA/AFP) Off Supertanker owners are getting paid $510,000 per day to bring crude oil from the Gulf to Asia, in a sign of high demand for vessels to transit the waterway as fighting rages in the region and alternative routes take supply from the market

Mecca agreement: Why Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan teamed up Submitted by Ahmed Altuwaijri on Mon, 08/17/2026 - 19:34 The best defence alliance is not one that makes a state dependent on its allies forever, but one that makes it more capable of relying on itself The signing of the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement by Saudi Arabia , Pakistan and Turkey this month was not the product of Riyadhs reaction to a specific, immediate threat, as many have assumed

Watch: Qatar says Hormuz Strait deal crucial for US-Iran talks Qatari foreign ministry spokesman Majed Al Ansari told reporters on Monday that an agreement on opening the Strait of Hormuz would make it easier to resume talks between the US and Iran

Irans top security official ridicules Trumps claims over Hormuz Strait Irans secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, Mohsen Rezaei, has ridiculed US President Donald Trump after he declared the Strait of Hormuz as a US territory

Irans top negotiator says Hormuz Strait will remain closed until US abides by MoU Irans top negotiator, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, said on Tuesday that the Strait of Hormuz would remain closed until the US meets the commitments stipulated in the memorandum of understanding, including lifting its naval blockade

A 60-day negotiation window set under the US-Iran memorandum of understanding (MoU) expired on August 17 with no deal, leaving the diplomatic process in limbo and rekindling fears over regional stability and maritime security in the Strait of Hormuz.

British maritime agency says the incident caused one casualty and damaged the vessel's engine room.

Morning update Good morning Middle East Eye readers, Here are the latest developments: The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) received a report on Tuesday that a vessel was struck by an unknown projectile while it was transiting in the Strait of Hormuz

Damage, crew casualty reported onboard vessel hit in Hormuz Strait, UKMTO says The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) received a report on Tuesday that a vessel wasstruck by an unknown projectile while it wastransiting in theStrait of Hormuz

UKMTO: Vessel struck by unknown projectile in Strait of Hormuz

A vessel was struck by a projectile in the Strait of Hormuz, leaving a crew member injured, according to the UKMTO.

UAE, Omani leaders discuss regional, global affairs in Abu Dhabi The president of the United Arab Emirates, Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, hosted a meeting with Omans Sultan, Haitham bin Tariq, in Abu Dhabi to discuss developments in regional and international affairs, according to a post from the Royal Oman Family on X

Centcom says it redirected 64 ships amid Hormuz blockade US Central Command (Centcom) said on Monday that the US Navy has redirected 64 commercial ships during its blockade of the Strait of Hormuz since mid-July, two more than in its last announcement on Friday

Turkey, Iran discuss efforts to reopen Strait of Hormuz, continue US-Iran ceasefire Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan held a call with his Iranian counterpart, Abbas Araghchi, on Monday to discuss efforts to open the Strait of Hormuz and ensure the continuation of a ceasefire between Iran and the US, according to Reuters, citing a Turkish diplomatic source

Shipping traffic in the Strait of Hormuz sank to a new low as a ceasefire between the U.S

Trump warns US will 'bomb shit out of' Oman if it strays from Washington's line on Iran Submitted by MEE staff on Mon, 08/17/2026 - 13:40 The US president was asked by Fox News about parallel talks between Tehran and Muscat over Strait of Hormuz control US President Donald Trump on 14 August 2026 in Garden City, New York (Samuel Corum/Getty Images via AFP) Off US President Donald Trump has threatened to bomb Oman if it gets in the way of Washingtons efforts to reach a deal with Iran over the Strait of Hormuz, according to Fox News

The U.S.-Iran deal was supposed to open the Strait of Hormuz while they negotiated a final deal on Tehran's nuclear program within 60 days.

Houthis say they targeted Saudi military ship in Red Sea Yemens Iran-aligned Houthis said on Monday that they had targeted a Saudi military vessel and four escort ships in the Red Sea with missiles

Like a battlefield: How Yemens Mocha went from a town of fishermen to a city of fighters Submitted by MEE correspondent on Mon, 08/17/2026 - 12:06 The historic, strategically located city was once a quiet fishing town, but today it serves as the headquarters of the Republican Guard forces and hosts many fighters fleeing Houthi areas The navigation bridge of a sunken vessel in Mocha the day after an attack by the Houthis in the city held by Yemens internationally recognised government on 10 August 2026 (Khaled Ziad/AFP) Off In Yemen s coastal city of Mocha, the dominant dialect is no longer that of the native fishermen who grew up relying on the sea

Trump says US could bomb Oman if it gets in the way US President Donald Trump has threatened to bomb Oman if the Gulf country gets in the way of Washingtons efforts to reach a peace deal with Iran, according to Fox News

Iran warns enemies to 'anticipate strategic surprises' as it shifts from a defensive stance Submitted by MEE staff on Mon, 08/17/2026 - 11:09 Meanwhile, Tehran blames pollution in Gulf waters on US wars and calls for Qatar to clarify the fate of three missing pilots A man holds an Iranian flag, next to a picture of Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, in Tehran, Iran, on 13 August 2026 (Majid Asgaripour/West Asia News Agency via Reuters) Off Iran has warned its adversaries to "anticipate strategic surprises" as a senior military official said the country was set to shift from a defensive stance to an offensive one

US considering nuclear weapons against Iran as war falters, claims Marjorie Taylor Greene Submitted by Elis Gjevori on Mon, 08/17/2026 - 11:00 Former congresswoman and Trump ally says Washington is weighing nuclear escalation as its conventional weapons stocks run low Former Republican Marjorie Taylor Greene speaks during a hearing with the House Committee on Homeland Security in the Cannon House Office Building on 11 December 2025 in Washington, DC (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images via AFP) Off Former US Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene has claimed that President Donald Trump's administration is discussing using nuclear weapons against Iran , as Washington struggles to sustain its months-long war

Iran says Hormuz transit route deal reached with Oman Iran on Monday said it has reached an understanding with Oman on a plan for ships to transit the Strait of Hormuz, with the two sides now working to finalise details and issue a joint statement

Iran says talks with Oman continue on new Hormuz transit route Iran and Oman are continuing talks to establish a secure maritime transit route through the Strait of Hormuz, Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said, blaming security complications caused by US and Israeli military actions

Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said on Monday Iran and Oman have agreed on the map of the new route for maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz.

Morning update Good morning Middle East Eye readers, Here are the latest developments: Jared Kushner and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi met in Egypt for talks on the war on Gaza and other regional issues on Sunday, according to a press release by the Egyptian presidency

Shipping slows through Strait of Hormuz after tanker attacks

Iran and Oman work on temporary Hormuz shipping route as Trump threatens to claim the strait Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Sunday that Tehran and Muscat were working to establish a temporary maritime route through the Strait of Hormuz, while stressing that the talks were separate from any decision on reopening the strategic waterway

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has called for the Strait of Hormuz to reopen.

Chief Commander of the Iranian Army Amir Hatami said on Sunday that US forces have been expelled from the Persian Gulf, Gulf of Oman, and the Strait of Hormuz, and are prohibited from returning.

Iran and Oman defining a temporary route for now, Araghchi says Irans foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi has reiterated that talks with Oman and reopening of Hormuz were two separate issues

Iran, Oman reach agreement on shipping traffic map in Strait of Hormuz

Taiwan has long prepared for a Chinese military invasion but wars in Iran and Ukraine expose new potential threats.

Iran's deputy foreign minister says Hormuz "will remain Iranian" after Trump's claim that the waterway would soon become U.S

UKMTO says bulk carrier struck in Hormuz A bulk carrier has been struck by anunknown projectile in the Strait of Hormuz,the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said

Iran called on the US to accept defeat while President Donald Trump blasted Iran as "evil" and said he would soon declare the Strait of Hormuz a US territory.

Saudi Arabia condemns attack on UAE tankers in Hormuz Saudi Arabia's foreign ministry has strongly condemned an attack on two tankers belonging to the UAEs oil giant ADNOC while transiting the Strait of Hormuz

Control over the strait has been a sticking point in the ongoing ceasefire negotiations between the US and Iran.

"It will be a combination of economic isolation like the world has never seen before, and the continued blockade in the Strait of Hormuz," Bessent said.

Vance says US will end up 'in a stronger position' than Iran US Vice President JD Vance said that Washington is using "diplomatic, military and economic" means to pressure Iran

The reopening of the Strait of Hormuz remains uncertain as Iran and the United States continue to hold firm to their positions, with neither side showing signs of backing down.

Bessent says US set to apply measures never seen on Iran US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said that Washingtonis going to apply measures that have "never been seen" on Iran

No injuries were reported in the attack, which the UAE called 'piracy' and a threat to global energy security.

UAE condemns Iranian attack on two vessels in Hormuz strait The United Arab Emirates on Friday condemned an Iranian attack it said targeted two vessels linked to state-owned Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (Adnoc) as they passed through the Strait of Hormuz

UAE's Adnoc says two vessels attacked in Strait of Hormuz, no injuries Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (Adnoc) said two of its vessels were attacked while transiting the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday evening, the United Arab Emirates' state news agency WAM reported

Oil futures retreated early Wednesday morning after prices rose overnight.

Here are five key things investors need to know to start the trading day.

The Persian Strait Gulf Authority said "the Strait of Hormuz remains blocked and will not be reopened until Iran's conditions are accepted."

Iran said the Strait of Hormuz would remain closed unless the United States accepts conditions put forward by Tehran, rejecting US claims that Washington has regained control of the strategic waterway.

President Trump again insists US has 'total control' of strait, while Tehran resolute that the US must meet its demands.

The IEA expects oil demand to fall by 1.6 million barrels a day in 2026 as high fuel prices and Strait of Hormuz disruptions weigh on consumption.

The International Energy Agency (IEA) on Wednesday cut its forecast for global oil demand in 2026, citing the continued closure of the Strait of Hormuz and elevated fuel prices that are weighing on consumption.

Brent crude climbs as renewed violence dampens hopes for a return to stability in energy markets.

The US and Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthis reported separate attacks on shipping on Tuesday as prospects for ending the months-old Iran war appeared to dim, with Tehran saying the Strait of Hormuz would remain closed unless Washington accepts its conditions.

Iran's top security official says the Strait of Hormuz will not reopen unless the US meets its conditions.

Footage shows an Egyptian-owned cargo vessel in flames in the Bab al-Mandeb strait after a suspected Houthi attack.

Pakistans interior minister Mohsin Naqvi has held talks with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in Tehran.

U.S

Oil traders keep clinging to hope that the Strait of Hormuz will reopen

US President Donald Trump on Monday responded to Iran's conditions for a peace deal with his own demands that Iran pay compensation for people killed in wars, attacks and protests, in a rhetorical escalation likely to complicate efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

US president seeks payment for '50 years' of alleged damages after Iran conditions opening of Hormuz on war reparations.

The dueling positions Washington and Tehran staked out showed how far apart the two sides remain even as both talked of winding down regional hostilities.

US President Donald Trump said he will seek compensation from Iran for casualties in the war.

Fees should be charged for maritime services provided in the Strait of Hormuz, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said on Monday.

A Chinese maritime court has successfully mediated a dispute that had arisen from a collision between two foreign vessels near the Strait of Hormuz, China's Supreme People's Court (SPC) said on Monday.

The escalating tally underscores how far the two sides remain from resolving a crisis that has choked the Strait of Hormuz for more than five months.

Brent crude prices rise as Tehran says critical waterway will not reopen without major US concessions.