Saudi Arabia is currently working to build an international maritime coalition to protect commercial shipping in the Red Sea following a series of Houthi attacks, according to two people familiar with the deliberations who spoke on Wednesday. The coalition’s composition remains unfinalized while discussions continue with dozens of countries. Red Sea Security and Houthi Blockade … Read more
Two Chinese very large crude carriers carrying a combined 4 million barrels of Saudi Arabian oil are heading toward the Bab el-Mandeb strait to exit the Red Sea, shipping data shows, testing whether Houthi forces will enforce a newly announced naval blockade against Saudi shipping despite ongoing regional military escalations. Chinese Very Large Crude Carriers … Read more
Houthi militants have escalated regional maritime tensions by launching ballistic and cruise missiles at two Saudi-flagged oil tankers, the Encelia and the Layla, in the Red Sea. According to reports from the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) and the maritime risk management firm Vanguard, the Encelia sustained fire damage after being struck by a … Read more
Transit levels through the Strait of Hormuz have dropped significantly as U.S.-Iran tensions escalate, with vessel crossings hitting a weekend low of four ships on Sunday compared to eight on Saturday, according to LSEG data. The disruption has halted visible liquefied natural gas (LNG) tanker traffic since Thursday, leading to a mounting backlog of fuel … Read more
Russia is poised to import a jet fuel cargo originating from Japan to alleviate domestic supply shortages caused by Ukrainian attacks on its energy infrastructure. According to three sources briefed on the matter, the cargo will travel through a complex logistics chain involving ship-to-ship transfers off the coast of South Korea to reach Russia. How … Read more
Thailand is advancing a 1 trillion baht ($30.45 billion) Land Bridge project to bypass the congested Malacca Strait. By connecting deep-sea ports in Chumphon and Ranong via a 90-kilometer railway, the corridor aims to reduce logistics costs by 30% and cut transit times by up to 14 days for specific cargo routes. How will the … Read more
A senior Iranian official confirmed to reporters on June 14 that a final draft of a memorandum of understanding between Iran and the United States has been reached. The proposed agreement outlines a roadmap for addressing Tehran’s nuclear program, the status of the Strait of Hormuz, and the potential easing of U.S. sanctions on Iranian … Read more
Iran-U.S. Talks on Frozen Funds: What’s Next in the Frozen Assets Deadlock? Dubai, June 11 — Iran and the U.S. are locked in high-stakes negotiations over the release of tens of billions in frozen Iranian assets, with both sides pushing for an interim deal to ease economic and military tensions. Iranian sources say Tehran demands … Read more
As of June 7, 2026, Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi has publicly rejected the notion that regional governments can claim reparations from Tehran. This stance follows reports that the United States is considering utilizing frozen Iranian assets to compensate Gulf allies for war-related damages, a move Iran describes as an internationally wrongful act that … Read more
The Economic Pulse: Stabilizing the Strait of Hormuz The recent news regarding a potential Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the United States and Iran has sent ripples through global energy markets. At the heart of this diplomatic maneuver is the Strait of Hormuz—a narrow, vital maritime corridor through which a significant portion of the world’s … Read more