On Wednesday, the Iran-aligned Houthi movement announced that it had targeted a Saudi oil tanker near Yanbu, located in the Red Sea, as part of their ongoing maritime blockade against Saudi Arabia. This incident marks the eighth attack on a Saudi oil vessel since the blockade commenced on July 22, according to a military spokesperson for the Houthis.
Yahya Saree, the Houthi spokesman, stated in a video message that the group successfully struck the Saudi oil tanker named ‘Wafa’ with several ballistic missiles in the northern Red Sea off the coast of Yanbu. The Houthis have signaled their intention to intensify attacks in the northern Red Sea, citing that Saudi Arabia has redirected its oil tankers to this area from the south in response to their blockade.
In the meantime, President Trump indicated that an agreement regarding the Strait of Hormuz might be reached as soon as Wednesday or Thursday. His comments came amid ongoing discussions between Iran and Oman aimed at reopening this vital maritime route, which could potentially facilitate a resolution to the ongoing conflict.
During a press encounter in California, Trump was questioned about a report from Axios suggesting that an announcement concerning the Strait of Hormuz could be imminent. He responded, “It could happen. Tomorrow or the next day,” emphasizing that considerable progress had been achieved.
Details emerging from the negotiations between Iran and Oman suggest that a framework is being established for vessels to enter the Persian Gulf via an Iranian-controlled channel and exit through an Omani route. Regional officials, who requested anonymity to discuss the delicate talks, mentioned that service fees would be implemented for ensuring maritime security and environmental preservation.
The Trump administration has previously dismissed any proposals that would grant Iran control over the strait, which has historically been an open international waterway prior to U.S. and Israeli military actions against Iran on February 28.
On Monday, Trump reiterated his opposition to tolls being imposed on vessels in the strait, asserting, “I’m not going to let them charge. If anyone is going to charge, it will be us.”
An Iranian source familiar with the discussions between Tehran and Muscat informed CBS News that the current focus of the negotiations is primarily on the logistics of reopening the Strait of Hormuz. According to the proposed plan, ships entering the strait would navigate the channel nearest to Iran, with Iranian authorities overseeing incoming traffic, while vessels exiting would follow the Omani route, under Muscat’s management.
The proposal also includes a service fee arrangement, with revenue shared between Iran and Oman. The broad elements of the agreement have reportedly been established, with remaining talks centered on execution and timing.
The U.S. Central Command confirmed on Tuesday that the southern route through the Strait of Hormuz remains open and accessible for all commercial vessels. They added that U.S. forces have aided over 1,000 ships in safely traversing the strait in the past three months.
Furthermore, sources with direct knowledge revealed to CBS News that the U.S. has nearly depleted its global stockpile of long-range precision missiles amid the conflict with Iran. Reports indicate that the U.S. has utilized virtually all Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS) and Precision Strike Missiles during Operation Epic Fury.
Previous reports have highlighted that U.S. stockpiles of defensive interceptors and long-range missiles are dwindling, which has raised concerns within the administration regarding sustainability in the ongoing military efforts against Iran.
U.S. officials have noted that inventories of ATACMS and Precision Strike Missiles are limited, with particular anxiety surrounding the availability of Patriot and Terminal High Altitude Area Defense interceptors, which have been depleted at a pace that outstrips production capabilities.
Sean Parnell, the Chief Pentagon spokesperson, stated to CBS News, “America’s military is the most powerful in the world and has everything it needs to execute at the time and place of the President’s choosing. We have conducted multiple successful operations across combatant commands while ensuring the U.S. military maintains a robust arsenal to safeguard our people and interests.”
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has previously downplayed concerns regarding the U.S. stockpile, asserting, “That is a manufactured story that the media wants to peddle, and ultimately our stockpiles are strong and only getting better.”
