US-Israel-Iran War Live News: The war in the Middle East continues to put pressure on Tehran as Washington expands economic sanctions and commercial traffic through the Strait of Hormuz drops sharply.
US President Donald Trump has stepped up his claims of military success, saying Iran is ‘falling apart’ and is no longer the dominant power in the Middle East. At the same time, preliminary tracking data showed only 7 vessel transits through the key waterway on Wednesday.
The latest developments come as the US targets Iran’s aviation sector with sanctions on 27 airlines and related networks. Tehran has condemned the measures, while tensions around Hormuz continue to threaten global energy supplies and keep oil prices above $100 a barrel.
US-Israel-Iran War Live News: Trump Says Iran is ‘Falling Apart’
Trump used his speech at the Republican Party’s midterm convention in Dallas to portray Iran as increasingly weakened by the ongoing conflict. “Their country’s falling apart,” Trump said at the event. “They’ve been the bully of the Middle East for 51 years, and they’re not the bully anymore.”
Trump has repeatedly presented the war as a US military success while defending his administration’s campaign against Tehran. His latest comments came as the conflict entered another tense phase, with fighting and economic pressure continuing to affect Iran and the wider Middle East.
The US has also intensified its efforts to restrict Iran’s access to international markets, including through fresh sanctions targeting the country’s aviation industry.
US-Israel-Iran War Live News: Trump Claims US Controls Strait of Hormuz
The Strait of Hormuz remains one of the most important flashpoints in the conflict. Trump claimed that the US controls the waterway and again highlighted Washington’s military presence in the region.
“I think we should call it the Trump Strait,” he said. The White House has previously said US forces control the international shipping lanes in Hormuz and have protected commercial vessels moving through the waterway. The administration said American forces had cleared Iranian mines and escorted commercial shipping through the strait.
US-Israel-Iran War Live News: US Sanctions 27 Iranian Airlines
Washington has also widened its economic pressure on Tehran by targeting Iran’s aviation sector.
The US Treasury Department announced sanctions against 27 Iranian airlines as part of its broader Operation Economic Outcast campaign. The action also targets companies and intermediaries that Washington says help Iran obtain aircraft, equipment and other aviation-related supplies.
The Treasury said the sanctioned airlines include carriers such as Iran Air Tour, Iran Aseman Airlines, Kish Airlines, Qeshm Air, Sepehran Airlines, Taban Airlines, Varesh Airlines and Zagros Airlines.
The US said the aviation sector provides support for Iran’s military and other activities. Washington also targeted third-country networks linked to Mahan Air and alleged procurement routes used to obtain aircraft and sensitive technology.
US-Israel-Iran War Live News: Iran Condemns New US Sanctions
Iran has rejected the latest US sanctions and accused Washington of using economic pressure to harm ordinary Iranians.
Iran’s UN ambassador, Gholamhossein Darzi, reportedly described the measures as “economic terrorism” in a letter to the UN secretary-general and the president of the Security Council.
Tehran has argued that restrictions on Iran’s aviation sector could make it harder for airlines to obtain spare parts, equipment and maintenance services required to operate civilian aircraft safely.
Iran also accused Washington of violating international law and its obligations toward civilians.
US-Israel-Iran War Live News: Strait of Hormuz Vessel Traffic Drops To 7
Shipping activity through the Strait of Hormuz has fallen sharply amid the continuing military tensions.
Preliminary ship-tracking data showed seven vessel transits through the strait on Wednesday, compared with 12 on Tuesday. The latest figure also remained below the 10-day average of 14 vessels, according to Reuters.
Four vessels exited the waterway, while three entered it. One of the vessels leaving the strait, the Finland Prosperity, carried nearly two million barrels of crude oil.
The tracking data does not necessarily capture every vessel using the waterway. Some ships have switched off their transponders, meaning tracking systems could not include them in the official count.
US-Israel-Iran War Live News: Oil Prices Stay Above $100 Amid Hormuz Tensions
The disruption around Hormuz has also kept pressure on global oil markets. Brent crude moved above $100 a barrel this week as the US-Iran confrontation intensified and concerns over energy supplies increased. The benchmark briefly moved above $101 on Wednesday.
The Strait of Hormuz plays a critical role in global energy trade, so any prolonged disruption can increase concerns over crude supplies, tanker availability and transportation costs.
The higher oil prices have also created an economic challenge for the Trump administration. Rising fuel costs can increase transportation expenses and add to inflationary pressure in the US.
US-Israel-Iran War Live News: Trump Links Oil Prices To Victory Over Iran
Trump has directly connected the future direction of oil prices to the outcome of the war. “Oil will be going down as soon as we win the war with Iran, which is taking place right now,” Trump said
His comments came as Brent crude remained above $100 and traders continued to assess the risks surrounding the Strait of Hormuz.
Trump has also suggested that the conflict could continue into the period around the US midterm elections. The president previously said he expected the war to end after the election, while his administration continues to put military and economic pressure on Tehran.
US-Israel-Iran War Live News: Iran Claims Attacks On Ships Near Hormuz
The shipping crisis intensified after Iran claimed that it had attacked 10 vessels near the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran said the attacks came in response to US strikes that destroyed five Iranian oil tankers. Tehran claimed its forces targeted two US vessels and eight oil tankers that it considered non-compliant. The US has disputed claims that its vessels were hit.
The latest confrontation has increased the risks for commercial shipping in and around Hormuz.
The waterway has become a central pressure point in the conflict because of its importance to global oil and gas shipments. Any prolonged reduction in traffic could have consequences far beyond the Middle East.
US-Israel-Iran War Live News: Why Strait of Hormuz Matters For Global Oil Supply
The Strait of Hormuz connects the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and serves as a major route for global energy shipments.
Before the current conflict, roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil and gas supplies moved through the waterway. That makes any sustained disruption a major concern for governments, energy companies and financial markets.
Lower vessel traffic can slow crude deliveries and increase shipping and insurance costs. Those higher costs can eventually feed into fuel prices and broader consumer inflation.
The latest fall to seven tracked transits therefore carries significance beyond the shipping industry. Markets are closely watching whether traffic recovers or falls further as the US-Iran conflict continues.
US-Israel-Iran War Live News: What’s Next?
The next major developments will likely centre on the Strait of Hormuz, US sanctions and the wider military confrontation between Washington and Tehran.
Shipping companies will continue monitoring the security situation before sending vessels through the waterway, while energy markets will watch for any further disruption to crude supplies.
The US is simultaneously increasing economic pressure on Iran through sanctions, including the latest measures against its aviation sector. Tehran, meanwhile, continues to challenge Washington’s military campaign and its claims over Hormuz.
With oil above $100 and tracked vessel traffic at just seven transits, the Strait of Hormuz will remain one of the most closely watched points in the US-Israel-Iran conflict.
