US targets bulk carrier as maritime tensions escalate in Gulf of Oman

The US military disabled the bulk carrier M/V Huda in an airstrike after the vessel repeatedly ignored warnings and breached an American naval blockade while attempting to reach an Iranian port in the Gulf of Oman. Simultaneously, Iranian state media reported that two oil tankers caught fire in the Strait of Hormuz after entering restricted areas and striking sea mines, marking the latest in a series of maritime explosions reported over recent days.

Political friction continues as US President Donald Trump claimed that military conflict with Iran was "effectively over," a statement Tehran swiftly rejected as "fake news." Amid the heightened tensions, Washington offered financial rewards for information regarding Iran's nuclear program, while German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius urged European leaders to decide promptly on participating in a naval protection mission for the vital shipping corridor.

Sources: Der Spiegel, Der Standard, FAZ, ORF, Tagesschau