Trump Threatens Iran After Houthi Attacks on Saudi Tankers

President Donald Trump threatened major military punishment against Iran and the Houthi movement following ballistic missile attacks on two Saudi Arabian oil tankers in the Red Sea. The Houthis claimed they targeted the NCC GHAZAL after the vessel ignored a maritime navigation ban, forcing the ship to reverse course. These attacks, along with strikes on oil supply sites linking eastern Saudi Arabia to the Yanbu export hub, pushed Brent crude oil prices above $100 a barrel for the first time since May.

In response, Trump announced that frozen Iranian assets would be used to compensate for damages to ships and cargo. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi rejected the proposal, warning that normalizing the confiscation of state assets would lead to global chaos. Iran also rejected a US-backed ceasefire proposal presented via Iraq, citing unresolved disputes over control of the Strait of Hormuz.

Simultaneously, the United States Central Command conducted its 13th consecutive night of strikes against Iranian military command centers and maritime assets. Saudi authorities vowed to protect their vessels and demanded that Iraq prevent its territory from being used by Iran-backed militias to launch drone attacks against Saudi oil facilities.