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US fighter jet shot down over Iran: Tasnim
US fighter jet shot down over Iran: Tasnim
Washington, 3 April (Argus) — Iran's military has shot down a US F-15 fighter jet over Iran, Iranian news agency Tasnim said on Friday. In a development that could spark a major escalation of the US-Israeli war with Iran and upend the White House's timetable for the conflict, the Iranian Army's Air Defense Unit shot down the fighter jet, Tasnim reported. The fate of the F-15 crew members was not immediately clear. In a conflicting report, Iranian state news agency Irna posted images on X of what it described as an "F-35 fighter jet" that it said had been destroyed by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Neither the White House nor US Central Command responded immediately to enquiries, while the Pentagon referred questions to Central Command. President Donald Trump has not posted on his social media platform about the incident. But at around 3:30pm ET he did post, "KEEP THE OIL, ANYONE?" And earlier in the day, Trump posted: "With a little more time, we can easily OPEN THE HORMUZ STRAIT, TAKE THE OIL, & MAKE A FORTUNE. IT WOULD BE A 'GUSHER' FOR THE WORLD???" During his prime time address to the US public about the war on 1 April, Trump claimed that the Iranians "have no anti-aircraft equipment", adding: "Their radar is 100pc annihilated. We are unstoppable as a military force." A second US war plane, an A-10 Warthog attack plane, crashed near the strait of Hormuz about the same time as the F-15, the New York Times reported on Friday. By David Ivanovich Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Iranian crude cargo changes course from India to China
Iranian crude cargo changes course from India to China
Dubai, 3 April (Argus) — A vessel that appeared to be carrying the first Iranian crude cargo to India for close to seven years has now changed course, and is signaling its destination as China, ship-tracking data show. The Aframax Ping Shun , carrying about 600,000 bl of Iranian crude, is now shown heading for Dongying in China after previously signalling its destination as Vadinar in India, according to data from Kpler and Vortexa . The reroute brings the shipment back into Iran's usual export pattern, with China emerging as the main destination for Tehran's heavily sanctioned and discounted crude in recent years. Vortexa data show China took more than 90pc of Iran's crude exports in 2025. The cargo's final destination could still change. Ping Shun , which was sanctioned by the US Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (Ofac) in 2025, is on a time charter to Iran's state-owned oil firm NIOC, ship brokers said. The vessel loaded at Kharg Island in early March. The cargo initially appeared to open a narrow window for India's first known Iranian crude delivery since May 2019, when US sanctions waivers that had allowed limited imports were withdrawn. India had previously supported the trade through alternative payment and marine insurance arrangements. A temporary US waiver issued on 21 March for Iranian crude loaded on or before 20 March and discharged by 19 April briefly revived that possibility. But the waiver did not amount to broader sanctions relief, and market participants said trades involving sanctioned vessels still face heavy compliance scrutiny. Some said payment-related hurdles may also have prompted the reroute. The voyage comes as the US-Israel war with Iran enters its second month with no clear resolution in sight, raising concerns over prolonged supply disruption. US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that Washington would hit Iran "extremely hard" over the next two to three weeks. By Rithika Krishna Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Kuwait's Mina al-Ahmadi refinery hit again by drones
Kuwait's Mina al-Ahmadi refinery hit again by drones
Dubai, 3 April (Argus) — Kuwait's 346,000 b/d Mina al Ahmadi refinery came under another drone attack early on Friday, causing fires in several operational units, state-owned Kuwait Petroleum (KPC) said. It was the third strike on the refinery in just over two weeks. KPC did not specify the extent of the damage or whether refinery operations were affected, but said it was working to maintain operational continuity. No injuries were reported. The refinery was previously hit in the early hours of 19 March, and again early on 20 March, which saw KPC shut a number of affected units as a precaution . Another Kuwaiti refinery, the 454,000 b/d Mina Abdullah plant, was also struck early on 19 March, adding to concerns over the vulnerability of the country's refining system. Kuwait has a third refinery, the 615,000 b/d al-Zour facility, further south, close to the Neutral Zone which Kuwait shares with Saudi Arabia. This latest attack follows weeks of repeated Iranian missile and drone attacks in Kuwait, and elsewhere in the Mideast Gulf region, in response to US and Israeli strikes on Iran. Kuwait's authorities have reported damage to airport and port infrastructure in recent weeks. Its air defenses have intercepted more than 500 drones and 300 ballistic missiles since the US-Israel war with Iran began on 28 February. US president Donald Trump said on Wednesday that military strikes on Iran would continue, dashing hopes for an imminent end to the conflict. By Rithika Krishna Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
First non-Iranian VLCC exiting the strait of Hormuz
First non-Iranian VLCC exiting the strait of Hormuz
London, 2 April (Argus) — A very large crude carrier (VLCC) carrying non-Iranian crude appears to have left the Mideast Gulf, the first since the start of the US-Iran war on 28 February, with a second close behind. The Dhalkut , operated by Trafigura according to the vessel's Q88 documentation, largely cleared the strait and was heading eastward as of 2 April. The Habrut , operated by Sinokor according to Q88 data, was on a similar path during the same timeframe. These could be the first two non-Iranian VLCCs to exit the Mideast Gulf since the war began over a month ago, a potential sign of Iran relaxing restrictions on ship movements. Both tankers are signalling Ras Markaz in Oman as their destination, which is a common method being used by ships in the Mideast Gulf to identify the nationality of the vessel and reduce the likelihood of attack by Iranian forces — but it is unlikely to be the vessels' final destination. The Dhalkat loaded Arab Heavy and Arab Medium crude on 26 February from Juaymah while the Habrut loaded Murban crude on 17 March from Jebel Dhanna, Kpler data show, and both have remained inside the Mideast Gulf since. When the Dhalkat first loaded before the war broke out, it appeared to indicate Myanmar as a destination, vessel tracking data show, and it may proceed there after exiting the strait. At least 14 VLCCs have left the strait of Hormuz since the start of March, according to Kpler data, all loaded from Kharg Island or the FPSO Soroosh , both controlled by Iran. Recently, traffic through the strait has been steady, Another seven vessels crossed on Wednesday, the same as on Tuesday. Three vessels exited the Mideast Gulf, and four vessels entered, transiting westbound through the channel, according to vessel tracking data from MarineTraffic. More notably, two ultra-large container carriers linked to China's Cosco — the CSCL Indian Ocean and CSCL Arctic Ocean — which abandoned attempts to transit on 27 March, transited the strait earlier in the week. Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps said that day that its navy had turned back three container ships attempting to pass through the strait. By Rhys van Dinther Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
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