The United States launched its 13th consecutive night of strikes on Iranian military targets early Friday, July 24, marking a significant intensification of the ongoing conflict in the region.
President Donald Trump announced that the US would hold Iran directly responsible for recent attacks on commercial tankers by Iran-backed Houthi forces in the Red Sea.
In a sharp escalation of economic pressure, Trump vowed to use frozen Iranian assets to punish Tehran for the maritime disruptions.
The administration’s stance links the Houthi attacks directly to Iranian state policy, justifying both the continued military campaign and new financial measures aimed at crippling Iran’s ability to support its proxies.
The development underscores the persistent threat to global trade routes, particularly for energy shipments passing through the Red Sea and the Bab el-Mandeb strait.
With commercial shipping under renewed threat, the risk premium on oil and freight rates remains elevated.