Even as diplomacy moved forward, the military picture remained fragile. Iran’s Tasnim News Agency, citing an unnamed military source, said clashes between Iranian and US forces in the Persian Gulf had stopped for now after an exchange of fire. The same source warned that any renewed US move into the Gulf or interference with Iranian vessels could trigger another Iranian response, suggesting the pause may be temporary rather than durable.
The threat of escalation was reinforced by new statements over maritime pressure and strategic waterways. Lawmaker Ali Khazarian said future US efforts to impose a naval blockade would be met with military action from Iran. Mohammad Mokhber, an adviser to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, described the Strait of Hormuz as an asset comparable in impact to an atomic bomb, arguing that control over the passage could affect the global economy with a single decision.
Security concerns were also reflected in regional shipping assessments. Britain’s maritime security agency said no incidents were recorded in the Arabian Sea or Gulf of Oman over the past day, but stressed that the wider security environment remained unstable and that threats to commercial shipping persisted. Those warnings are especially significant as tensions around Hormuz continue to raise fears over energy flows and maritime trade.
Separate concerns emerged over Iranian oil infrastructure. Satellite imagery cited in the live coverage showed a suspected oil slick near Khark Island, Iran’s main oil export terminal, with researchers saying the spill appeared consistent with oil and may cover about 45 square kilometers. The cause remains unclear, but any disruption near Khark carries weight because the island handles about 90 percent of Iran’s oil exports.
The developments point to a crisis unfolding on several fronts at once: diplomacy, military signaling, maritime security and energy risk. They also coincide with growing internal strain inside Iran, where the same live coverage reported continued internet restrictions and fresh pressure on dissidents and families linked to past protests.