The US-Iran conflict continues to escalate, with Egypt and Saudi Arabia becoming increasingly drawn into the regional hostilities. The latest developments include: Egypt's infrastructure struck for the first time, a fire on two vessels at an Egyptian port caused by a drone, and a Qatari vessel passing through the Strait of Hormuz for the first time in nearly three weeks. The US has renewed strikes on Iran, with explosions heard in southern Iran, including Bandar Abbas, Kish, and Qeshm Island. Iran's Revolutionary Guards vowed to close the Strait of Hormuz and punish the aggressor. Pakistan is doing the utmost to revive US-Iran negotiations, while Shell's quarterly profits soared due to the war's impact on global oil prices. The conflict has caused a surge in oil prices, with Brent crude up nearly a third since the start of the war. The US has struck dozens of IRGC targets in Iran, and the conflict is expanding to the Mediterranean, with a fire on two vessels at Egypt's port of Damietta caused by a drone. The Strait of Hormuz remains closed due to US threats and interference. The US-Saudi strikes on Iraq killed at least 20 people and wounded 32, and Iran conducted a deadly strike on a Chinese company in Kuwait. The shipping industry is exploring new routes due to the conflict's impact on trade. The US-Iran war is in desperate need of new thinking, and the US may end up in a worse position than before it started. The UAE supports Saudi Arabia's measures to safeguard its security. Jordan's military intercepted five missiles from Iran, and the US renewed strikes on Iran, with explosions heard in Bandar Abbas, Kish, Qeshm Island, and Khuzestan Province. The US-Saudi airstrikes in Iraq killed four members of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corp, and vessel traffic through critical shipping chokepoints remains heavily depressed.
