Overview
- Qatar’s defense ministry said a bulk carrier from Abu Dhabi was hit by a drone in Qatari waters on Sunday, causing a small fire that was put out and no injuries.
- Following Friday’s U.S. airstrikes that neutralized two Iranian tankers in the Gulf of Oman, Iran’s Revolutionary Guard warned of a heavy response to any attack on its commercial ships.
- Iran said Sunday it sent its response to a U.S. proposal via Pakistan and described the reply as focused on ending the war and guaranteeing maritime security.
- Satellite analysts at CEOBS reported Saturday that the large oil slick off Iran’s Kharg Island had strongly reduced, while the source of the spill remains unconfirmed.
- Iran has largely closed the Strait of Hormuz and the U.S. is blocking Iranian ports, and the U.N. maritime agency has counted about 1,500 ships and 20,000 crew stranded in the region.