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US Reimposes Red Sea Blockade, Oil Slides to $96 per barrel

7/25/2026

45 4 Full Breakdown

Summary

US Reimposes Blockade

U.S. Central Command disabled the tanker M/T Lavine after four ignored warnings, reimposing the blockade on July 14.
Iran reported no new U.S. strikes overnight into Saturday, the first night without attacks in two weeks.
President Donald Trump said the United States is “locked and loaded” but is “talking” with Tehran.
Brent crude fell to about $96 a barrel after two Chinese supertankers cleared the Bab el-Mandeb.

Summary

Omani FM: Open

Omani FM Badr Albusaidi tweeted the Strait of Hormuz must stay open.
He cited the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) as the legal basis for security.
He highlighted Strait of Malacca–Singapore cooperation as a model, pledged ASEAN ties at the anniversary meeting, and noted that July 24 data showed traffic at its lowest in two months, underscoring Oman’s neutral role.

Summary

Gulf Pipelines Expand

Seven Gulf pipelines could add 7.3 million barrels per day by 2028, covering 60 % of pre-war exports.
The UAE is building a $3 billion, 200-mile Fujairah pipeline that will add over 1.2 million barrels per day by mid-2027.
Saudi Arabia’s East-West pipeline from Abqaiq to Yanbu runs near full capacity with 3.5-5 million barrels per day spare.
Houthi rebels have hit Saudi pipelines and Red Sea tankers, exposing security threats to the bypass network.

History

Historical Context

During the 1987-88 Operation Earnest Will, the United States re-flagged Kuwaiti tankers and deployed 11 warships to escort 1.5 million barrels of oil daily, deterring Iranian attacks in the Tanker War. That precedent of naval convoy protection underpins today’s U.S. Central Command blockade of the M/T Lavine and Oman’s call for an open Strait of Hormuz, shaping Gulf energy security.

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US Reimposes Blockade

U.S. Central Command disabled the tanker M/T Lavine after four ignored warnings, reimposing the blockade on July 14.
Iran reported no new U.S. strikes overnight into Saturday, the first night without attacks in two weeks.
President Donald Trump said the United States is “locked and loaded” but is “talking” with Tehran.
Brent crude fell to about $96 a barrel after two Chinese supertankers cleared the Bab el-Mandeb.

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