Strait of Hormuz deal inches closer as oil prices dip; US commits to Tehran sanctions

Key Points:

• Pentagon investigators recently uncovered classified documents related to the 2021 U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan that were deliberately hidden, as announced on the fifth anniversary of the deadly Abbey Gate bombing that killed 13 U.S. service members.
• Iran's executive vice president cited the U.S. naval blockade as a critical barrier to importing gasoline, warning that the country's fuel situation is unsustainable and calling for military-backed enforcement of a memorandum with the U.S.
• Former President Donald Trump condemned the Biden administration's handling of the Afghanistan withdrawal, honoring the 13 fallen service members and claiming his administration has delivered justice by apprehending the mastermind behind the Abbey Gate attack.
• The U.S. Treasury launched Operation Economic Outcast, a sanctions campaign targeting Iran's financial networks and allies to pressure the regime economically, with experts suggesting it could push Iran toward a highly unstable situation amid ongoing protests.
• Oil prices surged above $89 per barrel amid evolving talks between Iran and Oman on reopening the Strait of Hormuz shipping route, though prices later stabilized; meanwhile, the U.S. maintains a naval blockade on Iranian ports as part of heightened regional tensions.