Iran has reintroduced the concept of the 'oil weapon' by restricting oil tanker movement through the Hormuz Strait in response to continued US and Israeli airstrikes in the Gulf region. This move has triggered a global oil shortage and sharp price increases, with Brent crude trading above $100 per barrel and analysts warning prices could reach $140 if the conflict continues. On March 20, the Trump administration temporarily eased sanctions on Iranian oil for 30 days to stabilize prices, signaling limited policy options.

The article draws parallels between Iran’s current strategy and the 1973 Arab oil embargo, when Arab OPEC members halted exports to Israel-supporting nations, causing a fourfold price surge and forcing the US to alter its Middle East policy. Then, as now, energy restrictions achieved political leverage over Western powers.

Experts cited in the report note that despite larger petroleum reserves among OECD countries today, these would only cushion short-term disruptions. Iran’s actions have exposed the limits of US military power and underscored that oil remains a potent geopolitical tool even after five decades.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has declared that the Strait of Hormuz will never return to its previous state, saying conditions have permanently changed for the United States and Israel. In a social media statement, the IRGC Navy said it is in the final stage of military preparations to implement a new system Iran plans to introduce in the Persian Gulf region.

Earlier, an Iranian parliamentary committee approved a draft law proposing transit fees for ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz, to be paid in Iran’s national currency. The draft also calls for a complete ban on U.S. and Israeli vessels and reciprocal restrictions on countries imposing unilateral sanctions on Iran. The plan includes provisions on Iran’s sovereignty, armed forces’ control, maritime security, environmental protection, and legal cooperation with Oman.

Meanwhile, former U.S. President Donald Trump has issued multiple ultimatums demanding Iran reopen the strait, warning of strikes on Iranian power plants and infrastructure if it fails to comply. Russia, China, and other countries have expressed deep concern over the escalating situation.

Iran has condemned U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent threat to destroy the country’s infrastructure if the Strait of Hormuz is not reopened. On Sunday, April 5, Trump warned that Iran would face devastating attacks on its bridges and power plants, saying the country would be forced to live in hell if it did not comply. Iranian officials denounced the remarks as a “dangerous game” and described them as an incitement to war crimes.

Following Trump’s comments, Iran claimed to have shot down two U.S. C-130 warplanes and two Black Hawk helicopters. The statement came as Trump confirmed that an American officer missing after an F-15E fighter jet was downed in Iran had been rescued. The exchange of threats and military claims has further heightened tensions between the two nations.

The situation underscores the fragile state of U.S.-Iran relations, with both sides trading accusations and military actions in a volatile regional environment.

Iran has announced that it will not reopen the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz until it receives war compensation. According to a report by Al Jazeera citing the Iranian president’s office, the statement was made on Sunday. Seyyed Mehdi Tabatabaei, the president’s communications adviser, said in a social media post that under a new legal framework, the strait would only reopen once compensation is paid through transit fees.

Tabatabaei also sharply criticized recent remarks by Donald Trump, accusing him of making inappropriate and meaningless comments out of frustration after threatening attacks on Iran’s civilian infrastructure over the closure of the strait. The Strait of Hormuz is a critical route for global energy supplies, and the ongoing closure has heightened tensions in international markets and raised concerns about regional security.

The report noted that pressure on Iran is increasing, but the country remains firm in its decision not to reopen the strait until its conditions are met.

US President Donald Trump has claimed that Washington attempted to send weapons to Iranian protesters earlier this year amid ongoing unrest in Iran. In an interview with Fox News, Trump said the weapons were sent through Kurdish intermediaries but ultimately did not reach the protesters. The report was carried by Al Jazeera, citing Trump’s remarks.

Trump stated that many weapons were sent via the Kurds, though he did not specify which groups or individuals were involved in the operation. He added that he believed the Kurds kept the weapons for themselves. The comments come at a time of heightened tension between the United States and Iran, and the statement is expected to spark new controversy.

The report also referenced related developments, including Trump’s earlier threats against Iran and remarks from Iranian leaders criticizing his stance, suggesting the issue could further strain relations between the two nations.

Middle East analyst Mohammad Ali Shabani stated that the current tension between the United States and Iran has reached a stage where neither side can withdraw without losing face. Speaking to Al Jazeera, the Amwaj.media editor said US President Donald Trump appears ready to carry out threats to strike Iran’s key infrastructure, a move that could trigger a major regional conflict.

Shabani added that Iran is signaling its own resolve by targeting infrastructure in Kuwait to demonstrate it will not back down either. He described the situation as a standoff in which both sides are trapped by the need to preserve their honor.

He warned that under these circumstances, the region faces a high likelihood of escalating tension within the next 24 hours.

Iran’s First Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref has sharply criticized U.S. President Donald Trump, saying Trump remains “stuck in the Stone Age.” Aref made the remarks in a post on social media platform X, responding to Trump’s recent comments threatening to destroy Iran’s power plants and bridges. The statement was reported by Al Jazeera on April 5, 2026.

According to U.S. media reports cited in the source, Trump said his administration could not fund healthcare and childcare programs because of increased military spending. Aref argued that a leader who abandons his own people’s welfare while threatening others is still living in the Stone Age. He added that Iran has chosen a path of development and construction despite external pressure.

Aref’s comments came after Trump had repeatedly threatened to “send Iran back to the Stone Age.” The exchange underscores continuing verbal hostilities between Washington and Tehran over military and economic issues.

An Iraqi oil tanker named ‘Ocean Thunder’ has passed through the Strait of Hormuz without incident under Iran’s special exemption policy, according to Al Jazeera. Data from LSEG and Kpler showed that the vessel traveled along Iran’s coast through the strategic waterway. Iran had announced a day earlier that Iraq would not face any restrictions on navigation through this vital maritime route.

Marine traffic trackers indicated that the tanker was last located in the Gulf of Oman. Kpler data revealed that ‘Ocean Thunder’ loaded about one million barrels of Basra Heavy crude oil on March 2 and is expected to arrive at Malaysia’s Pengerang port in mid-April.

The smooth passage of the Iraqi tanker is being viewed as significant amid ongoing tensions in one of the world’s most critical energy transport corridors.

Iran has claimed that a US special operation to rescue a missing American pilot has failed. The statement came after US President Donald Trump announced on his Truth Social account that the mission was one of the most courageous in US history and had been completed successfully. Following Trump’s post, Iranian authorities and state media rejected the claim, describing the operation as unsuccessful.

A spokesperson for Iran’s central military headquarters, Khatam al-Anbiya, said in a statement that US forces made desperate attempts to recover the downed pilot but failed due to the efforts of Iranian forces. The United States had earlier confirmed that there was an exchange of gunfire between American and Iranian troops during the mission.

Iran’s military further alleged that Washington’s announcement of a successful rescue was an attempt to conceal its defeat. The incident has added to the ongoing tensions between the two countries, which have previously clashed over military and political issues.

Iran has claimed to have shot down a US C-130 transport aircraft and two Black Hawk helicopters in the southern province of Isfahan. According to Tehran, the incident occurred during a US mission to rescue missing crew members. Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf shared an image of the event on social media, while state television broadcast footage showing the downed aircraft.

A statement from Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya military headquarters said the aircraft were destroyed during what it described as a reckless and hostile rescue operation by enemy forces south of Isfahan. Iranian authorities have portrayed the incident as a major victory, arguing that it disproves US claims about the weakness of Iran’s air defense capabilities.

The situation remains tense following recent US-Israeli attacks in Iran. US President Trump has warned of potential large-scale strikes on key Iranian infrastructure within hours or days, according to reports from Al Jazeera and Tasnim News Agency.

Iran and Oman have held a high-level meeting aimed at maintaining normal maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical oil transport routes, according to Al Jazeera. The meeting, reported by the Oman News Agency, brought together the deputy foreign ministers of both countries to discuss ways to ensure safe and uninterrupted passage through the strait.

Technical experts from Iran and Oman presented several proposals and plans to preserve stability in the area. The Strait of Hormuz is vital for global energy supplies, and recent tensions have raised concerns about its security. Following a joint U.S.-Israel attack on Iran, Tehran had temporarily declared the route closed to shipping.

Iran later announced that the strait would remain safe for all nations except the United States, Israel, and their allies, signaling a partial reopening of the crucial maritime corridor.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has claimed responsibility for attacks on petrochemical facilities in Bahrain and Kuwait. According to a statement carried by Iranian media, the strikes were carried out in response to earlier attacks on Iran’s energy infrastructure and a bridge in Karaj, west of Tehran. The IRGC described the action as retaliation against assaults allegedly conducted by the United States and Israel.

The statement further warned that if civilian facilities in Iran are targeted again, the IRGC will launch a second wave of attacks that would be stronger and more extensive. The situation has become more tense as U.S. President Donald Trump has reportedly set a 48-hour deadline, warning that if Iran does not reopen the Strait of Hormuz, American forces could target energy and desalination infrastructure.

The developments mark a sharp escalation in regional tensions, with both sides signaling readiness for further confrontation if demands are not met.

World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has expressed deep concern over the safety of Iran’s nuclear facilities following a reported US-Israeli strike. In a message posted on social media platform X, Tedros warned that such attacks pose a serious risk of nuclear accidents with potentially devastating health consequences lasting for generations. He added that as the conflict escalates, so do the associated risks and threats.

According to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), a projectile struck near the Bushehr nuclear power plant, killing one worker after debris fell on the site. Bushehr is Iran’s only operational nuclear power plant and is located in a city of about 250,000 people, considered one of the country’s key industrial and military centers.

The incident has heightened international concern about the potential for further escalation and the safety of nuclear infrastructure in conflict zones.

A clash reportedly broke out between US and Iranian forces during a search and rescue mission in Iran to recover the second crew member of a US F-15 fighter jet that had been shot down. The injured crew member was rescued, according to Donald Trump, who said the injuries occurred when the aircraft was downed, not during the gunfire. The incident took place as multiple US warplanes participated in the operation.

Trump stated that no US personnel were killed or injured in the clashes. However, Iranian sources claimed that a US drone was shot down during the search effort. Video footage from the previous Friday appeared to show several individuals firing at a US Black Hawk helicopter.

The confrontation adds to ongoing tensions between the United States and Iran, which have recently been marked by mutual accusations and military incidents, according to the report.

Iran has executed two men accused of working for the United States and Israel. According to the country’s judiciary, the executions were carried out after the Supreme Court upheld the final verdict. The men, identified as Mohammad-Amin Biglari and Shahin Vahedparast, were alleged to have been involved with foreign powers during anti-government protests earlier this year.

A statement published on the judiciary’s website, Mizan Online, confirmed the executions and noted that the two were linked to demonstrations that intensified in January. The judiciary described their actions as collaboration with foreign entities during a period of unrest.

The report, citing Gulf News, did not provide further details about the nature of their alleged activities or the judicial process beyond the Supreme Court’s review and confirmation of the death sentences.