LEBANON, NUCLEAR INSPECTIONS
Alongside the issue of control over the strait, disagreements persist over other elements of the framework ceasefire deal, including over financial incentives for Iran, nuclear inspections, and Israel’s parallel war in Lebanon.
The deal has set up 60 days of talks to tackle thornier issues, including Iran’s nuclear programme.
In the US, the war is weighing heavily on Trump ahead of November midterm elections that will determine control of Congress.
The International Maritime Organization (IMO), a UN agency, temporarily paused its operation to escort ships through the Strait of Hormuz after the Oman incident.
The IMO and Oman had earlier this week announced a new southern route through the strait to evacuate hundreds of ships stranded by the war, angering Tehran.
South Korea’s President Lee Jae Myung said on Friday that three South Korean ships would leave the Strait of Hormuz over the weekend after the Oceans Ministry reported eight more South Korean vessels had exited.
Two very large crude carriers controlled by Saudi Arabia’s shipping arm Bahri were seen loading crude at Ras Tanura, while another waited nearby, shipping data showed. Each carrier can load 2 million barrels of oil.
Ras Tanura sits on Saudi Arabia’s eastern coast on the Gulf and is west of the Strait of Hormuz. It used to export more than 5 million barrels per day of crude before the conflict.