US escorts crude through Strait of Hormuz as Iran sets terms for reopening

The United States military has executed a major nighttime operation using naval, aerial, and space assets to escort crude oil tankers through the Strait of Hormuz. Alongside the transit, US forces struck targets on Iran's Larak Island to diminish Tehran's ability to attack commercial shipping.

In response, Iranian forces launched mine-laying rockets into the waterway. Tehran announced that the strategic maritime passage "will not be opened" until Washington meets several conditions, including lifting port blockades and petroleum sanctions, releasing frozen Iranian assets, and ending military actions across all fronts. Prior to the escalation six months ago, approximately 20 million barrels of crude passed through the channel daily.

Sources: Expresso, Expresso das Ilhas, RTP (Rádio e Televisão de Portugal)