US launches fourth night of strikes on Iran and restarts naval blockade

Key Points:

• Iran claims to have targeted US military infrastructure in the Gulf, including sites in Kuwait, Bahrain, and Jordan, in retaliation for US airstrikes and a renewed blockade on Iranian ports; however, these claims have not been independently verified by CNN or US Central Command.
• In Kuwait, Iran’s IRGC stated it struck a US Army logistics center in Mina Abdullah, causing a fire, though it remains unclear if the affected building was indeed linked to the US military.
• In Bahrain, Iran claimed attacks on US Fifth Fleet facilities, including a command center and fuel storage, while in Jordan, Iran alleged strikes on US military assets at Al-Azraq Air Base, targeting F-18 jets and MQ-9 drones, though some details conflict with typical US military deployments.
• Separately, China reported a 4.3% economic growth in Q2 2024, below expectations, highlighting ongoing domestic and international economic challenges, including impacts from higher energy costs related to the Iran conflict.
• Continued US-Iran tensions risk further economic disruption for China, potentially affecting fuel prices, consumer sentiment, and manufacturing despite China's efforts to mitigate supply shocks.