A critical warning from the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) highlights escalating tensions in the Strait of Hormuz after Iran's Revolutionary Guard seized two container ships, causing Brent crude to briefly surge past $100 a barrel. The agency reported vessels coming under fire off the coast of Iran, with one attack causing 'heavy damage' to a ship's bridge, as regional instability triggers immediate volatility in global oil markets.

Abbas blames the U.S. and Europe as Iran steps back from Friday talks

The political message from Iran hardened at the same time. Tasnim reported that Iran has “no plans” to negotiate with the U.S. on Friday. That came as Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Aragchi held a phone call with Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani on Wednesday.

The two men discussed regional developments and the security, legal, and economic fallout from what Iran described as the U.S.-Israeli war of aggression against Iran.

Abbas criticized European countries for staying silent over what he called unlawful U.S. and Israeli military attacks on Iran. He said that silence damages international law and the non-proliferation regime.

Abbas also raised Europe’s response to attacks on Iran’s peaceful nuclear facilities and called that silence unacceptable. Abbas said this kind of double standard is helping wear down international law and the non-proliferation system.

During the call, Abbas laid out what he said the U.S. and the Zionist regime had done in the recent attacks. He said all countries have a duty to condemn clear violations of the United Nations Charter and international law.

He said the current crisis in the Strait of Hormuz came directly from unlawful and unilateral U.S. military action against a sovereign U.N. member state.

Abbas also said Iran, as a coastal state, has taken steps under international law to protect its national security from threats and aggression. He added that the aggressors are responsible for the global economic damage coming out of this crisis.

Earlier on X, Abbas had said: “Blockading Iranian ports is an act of war and thus a violation of the ceasefire. Striking a commercial vessel and taking its crew hostage is an even greater violation. Iran knows how to neutralize restrictions, how to defend its interests, and how to resist bullying.”

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