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Oil, gas and dry cargoes are being shipped all over the world every day. With seaborne transportation comes exposure to shipping costs. Be it via direct cost or through the prices of feedstocks or finished products, a freight factor is always there. Highly sensitive to market shifts, geopolitics and regulations, freight is a complex and volatile part of every trade.

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US, Iran exchange strikes after Hormuz impasse: Update

US, Iran exchange strikes after Hormuz impasse: Update

Updates with details throughout Washington, 1 September (Argus) — US and Iranian forces exchanged strikes on Tuesday, following apparent Iranian attacks on Saudi tankers attempting to transit through the strait of Hormuz. US strikes targeted Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) installations beginning at 12pm ET (16:00 GMT) on Tuesday, said the US Central Command (Centcom), which oversees Middle East-based US forces. The US strikes hit targets on Qeshm island in the strait of Hormuz and near Bandar Abbas in southern Iran, according to the IRGC-affiliated Iranian news agency Tasnim. IRGC said it launched missile and drone attacks against US bases in Jordan and Bahrain and claimed that an Iranian missile hit resulted in casualties at a Jordan-based US base. Centcom did not confirm the Iranian claim. President Donald Trump on Tuesday vowed to retaliate at "a much harder and higher level" in response to the Iranian attacks on US bases. Trump told Fox News that the US strikes on Tuesday targeted the recently-rebuilt Iranian radar installations, according to the US network's account of the interview that the White House confirmed. October Nymex WTI rose by almost 6pc to $90.22/bl on Tuesday following the resumption of US-Iranian strikes. Centcom said the Tuesday attacks were a retaliation after two very large crude carriers (VLCCs) carrying Saudi crude were involved in separate security incidents in the strait of Hormuz. The US and Iran exchanged strikes on Monday for the first time in more than a month. The US said it had taken "limited, precise action" against Iran's IRGC minelaying forces on Larak island in Hormuz, while the IRGC said it retaliated with ballistic missile attacks against US bases in Jordan. The Pentagon cited the IRGC attack on the US base in Jordan on Monday as an additional justification for the US military action on Tuesday. Iran's ability to target ships passing through Hormuz counters recent US claims of having decisively eliminated Tehran's military threat and of enabling an increase in oil exports through the critical Mideast Gulf waterway. Vessel traffic through the strait of Hormuz remained low on Monday, according to data from maritime security firm Windward. Trump on Monday "officially" declared Iran a "failed nation", citing the supposed destruction of its military potential. Trump said last week that the US military removed all Iranian mines in the strait of Hormuz. But on Tuesday, he said that he ordered US strikes "in retaliation for the Iranians' failed attempt at adding sea mines to the Strait, which currently has no mines (They have been completely removed or detonated!)". Treasury secretary Scott Bessent, speaking on the sidelines of the G20 finance ministerial in North Carolina on Tuesday, likewise described Iran as "militarily crushed" and said that the US was prioritizing its naval blockade and new economic sanctions against Iran to bring pressure on Iran. Bessent at the same time downplayed the importance of Hormuz. "In two years, the strait of Hormuz will be like a worthless piece of water," he said, citing projects by Mideast Gulf states to diversify exports from the region by pipelines. Earlier Tuesday Iranian president Masoud Pezeshkian said the country would immediately reciprocate if the US returns to its commitments under an interim agreement reached in June. Tehran has repeatedly linked the restoration of free navigation through the strait of Hormuz to US implementation of the June agreement. By Haik Gugarats Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

US resumes air strikes against Iran

US resumes air strikes against Iran

Washington, 1 September (Argus) — US forces began to carry out strikes against Iran at 12pm ET (16:00 GMT) on Tuesday following apparent Iranian attacks on Saudi tankers attempting to transit through the strait of Hormuz. US strikes hit targets on Qeshm island in the strait of Hormuz and near Bandar Abbas in southern Iran, according to Iranian news agency Tasnim, which is affiliated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). Washington appeared to expect strong retaliation from Iran, with US embassies in Jordan, Qatar, Bahrain and Oman issuing security warnings to US citizens living in those countries. Two very large crude carriers (VLCCs) carrying Saudi crude have been involved in separate security incidents in the strait of Hormuz, according to navigational warnings from the Pakistan Navy. The US and Iran exchanged strikes on Monday for the first time in more than a month. The US said it had taken "limited, precise action" against Iran's IRGC minelaying forces on Larak island in Hormuz, while the IRGC said it retaliated with ballistic missile attacks against US bases in Jordan. The Pentagon cited the IRGC attack on the US base in Jordan as an additional justification for the military action on Tuesday. Iran's ability to target ships passing through Hormuz counters recent US claims of having decisively eliminated Tehran's military threat and of enabling an increase in oil exports through the critical Mideast Gulf waterway. Vessel traffic through the strait of Hormuz remained low on Monday amid increased attacks on commercial vessels transiting the waterway, according to data from maritime security firm Windward. Trump on Monday "officially" declared Iran a "failed nation", citing the supposed destruction of its military potential. Treasury secretary Scott Bessent, speaking on the sidelines of the G20 finance ministerial in North Carolina on Tuesday, likewise described Iran as "militarily crushed" and said that the US was prioritizing its naval blockade and new economic sanctions against Iran to bring pressure on Iran. Bessent at the same time downplayed the importance of Hormuz. "In two years, the strait of Hormuz will be like a worthless piece of water," he said, citing projects by Mideast Gulf states to diversify exports from the region by pipelines. Earlier Tuesday Iranian president Masoud Pezeshkian said the country would immediately reciprocate if the US returns to its commitments under an interim agreement reached in June. Tehran has repeatedly linked the restoration of free navigation through the strait of Hormuz to US implementation of the June agreement. By Haik Gugarats Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

Hormuz traffic Monday still low amid attacks

Hormuz traffic Monday still low amid attacks

New York, 1 September (Argus) — Vessel traffic through the strait of Hormuz remained low on Monday amid increased attacks on commercial vessels transiting the waterway, according to data from maritime security firm Windward. A total of 13 vessels transited the strait of Hormuz on Monday, split between six inbound transits, including four tankers, and seven outbound transits, including three tankers. All vessel transits on Monday took place on the northern Iranian-controlled traffic lane, Windward data shows, with no vessels in the southern US-protected lane. Iran appears to have struck a Saudi Arabian very large crude carrier in the strait late on Monday, while it was transiting in the southern US-protected traffic lane . This was the second attack on a commercial vessel transiting through the southern lane in three days. By Charlotte Bawol Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

US, Iran exchange strikes again: Update

US, Iran exchange strikes again: Update

Adds US' comments and details on Iran's retaliation Washington, 31 August (Argus) — The US attacked Iranian military facilities on the island of Larak in the strait of Hormuz on Sunday, while Tehran retaliated by launching missiles at US bases in Jordan, according to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. The Pentagon did not immediately confirm an attack on Iranian bases. But US Central Command (Centcom), which oversees US forces in the Mideast Gulf, said soon after that the US military had taken "limited, precise action against IRGC minelaying forces posting an imminent threat in the strait of Hormuz." The IRGC said it launched attacks on the King Hussein and al-Azraq bases in Jordan with ballistic missiles in response. It claimed "heavy damage" as a result of those strikes. Neither the US nor Jordan have commented on those strikes. Separately, Iran's army claimed a drone attack against the Al-Minhad base in the UAE, where it said US helicopters were stationed. The UAE ministry of defence has since denied that claim, describing them as "false". This marked the first exchange of strikes in more than a month. The US and Iran exchanged strikes daily from 11-23 July but fighting paused when the US administration declared its intention to switch to non-military forms of pressure against Iran. It is not clear what prompted yet another change in the US tactics. The US administration last week launched "Operation Economic Outcast" aiming to cut off Iran's business links to companies abroad. The White House last week declared the strait of Hormuz free of sea mines and doubled down on claims that as much as 10mn b/d of oil is exported from the Mideast Gulf under the US military umbrella. Most market participants and satellite tracking data do not corroborate the US claim of a spike in oil exports from the Mideast Gulf. A tanker transiting the strait of Hormuz near the coast of Oman was "struck by an unknown projectile" on Saturday night, according to the UK Maritime Trade Operations organization. A total of 12 vessels transited the strait of Hormuz on 27 August, the same number as a day before, according to data from maritime security firm Windward. This puts commercial vessel traffic through the waterway just under 10pc of the normal traffic levels prior to the 28 February US-Israel attack on Iran that prompted Iran to declare the strait closed. The Pentagon on Sunday angrily pushed back against a Washington Post report that cited confidential government documents showing senior US military commanders across the world had urged the White House to scale down military operations in the Middle East. "Publishing highly classified assessments from the (defense) secretary's orders book is a crime," the Pentagon said, while adding that "much of what they're publishing is inaccurate." By Haik Gugarats and Nader Itayim Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

US, Iran exchange strikes again

US, Iran exchange strikes again

Washington, 30 August (Argus) — The US attacked Iranian military facilities on the island of Larak in the strait of Hormuz Sunday, while Tehran retaliated by launching missiles at US bases in Jordan, according to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. The Pentagon did not immediately confirm an attack on Iranian bases. If confirmed, this would mark the first exchange of strikes in more than a month. The US and Iran exchanged strikes daily from 11-23 July but fighting took a pause as the US administration declared its intention to switch to non-military forms of pressure against Iran. It is not clear what prompted yet another change in the US tactics. The US administration last week launched "Operation Economic Outcast" aiming to cut off Iran's business links to companies abroad. The White House last week declared the strait of Hormuz free of sea mines and doubled down on claims that as much as 10mn b/d of oil is exported from the Mideast Gulf under the US military umbrella. Most market participants and satellite tracking data do not corroborate the US claim of a spike in oil exports from the Mideast Gulf. A tanker transiting the strait of Hormuz near the coast of Oman was "struck by an unknown projectile" on Saturday night, according to the UK Maritime Trade Operations organization. A total of 12 vessels transited the strait of Hormuz on 27 August, the same number as a day before, according to data from maritime security firm Windward. This puts commercial vessel traffic through the waterway just under 10pc of the normal traffic levels prior to the 28 February US-Israel attack on Iran that prompted Iran to declare the strait closed. The Pentagon on Sunday angrily pushed back against a Washington Post report that cited confidential government documents showing senior US military commanders across the world had urged the White House to scale down military operations in the Middle East. "Publishing highly classified assessments from the (defense) secretary's orders book is a crime," the Pentagon said, while adding that "much of what they're publishing is inaccurate." By Haik Gugarats Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

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