A Kuwaiti oil tanker was struck by what Kuwaitis said was an Iranian drone attack, as US President Donald Trump renewed his threat to blow upIran'soil facilities if it does not reopen the Hormuz strait. No oil leakage or injuries were reported following the strike on the tanker full of oil in Dubai waters, city authorities said.
Meanwhile, Washington claims talks with Tehran are still ongoing but has offered little detail on who they are communicating with, while Iran sends contradictory messages.
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Here's what to know on Day 32.
What are the main headlines?
Tanker struck: A fully loaded Kuwaiti tanker in Dubai waters was hit by what Kuwaits said was an Iranian drone attack, as Trump again threatened to blow up Iran's energy sources if the Strait of Hormuz isn't reopened fully. Trump reiterated his threat to "obliterate" Iran's electric plants and oil wells if it does not agree to a deal to end the war. When asked about this threat, the White House press secretary said the US military will always follow the law. Attacking civilian infrastructure could be a war crime, experts warn.
Washington comments: The White House press secretary said US talks with Iran were "going well," and that Iranian officials now at the negotiating table appear more reasonable than the regime's previous leader. She added that US troops are being sent to the Middle East to give Trump "maximum optionality" while officials pursue a diplomatic solution.
Iran's response: In a stark contrast in tone, an Iranian official earlier lambasted the US' list of demands as "largely excessive, unrealistic, and unreasonable."
Strait of Hormuz: The White House heralded the movement of some tankers in the strait as a sign of diplomacy, shortly before Iran approved a plan to impose tolls on ships passing through the critical waterway.
Energy costs: On Tuesday, oil prices rose slightly while Asian markets were trading lower. WTI Crude, the US benchmark, settled above $100 per barrel on Monday for the first time since July 2022.
What's happening on the ground?
Peacekeepers killed: France called for an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council after two Indonesian UN peacekeepers were killed in southern Lebanon on Monday. It was the second fatal incident involving UN peacekeeping personnel since the weekend. The UN mission in Lebanon said it has launched an investigation to determine what happened, and did not attribute blame to any party. Israel said it is reviewing the incident to determine whether the deaths were caused by its military, or by Hezbollah, the Iran-backed group in Lebanon.
Lebanon soldier: An Israeli attack on a Lebanese army checkpoint killed one Lebanese soldier and wounded five others on Monday, according to the country's army. In response, Israel's military said its troops were operating in an area "from which launches were identified earlier in the day."
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