By Desmond Nleya
DUBAI-Four oil tankers have reportedly caught fire and exploded in the Strait of Hormuz, escalating tensions in the strategic shipping corridor as US President Donald Trump expressed optimism that the war with Iran could soon come to an end.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said the four tankers were travelling along what it described as “unauthorised routes” when the incidents occurred. The developments have heightened concerns over maritime security and the safety of international oil shipments through the critical waterway.
Meanwhile, Trump said the conflict with Iran was “going to get wrapped up soon”, but stressed that Washington needed firm guarantees that Tehran would never acquire nuclear weapons.
On the diplomatic front, Iranian media reported that a Qatari delegation had returned to Tehran for further discussions aimed at reviving ceasefire negotiations. An Iranian source also confirmed that Tehran had received a letter from Washington outlining proposals to end the conflict.
Elsewhere, tensions continued to spread across the region after the Saudi-led coalition fighting Yemen’s Houthi movement claimed it had intercepted drones over Saudi Arabia’s Eastern, Medina and Mecca regions.
However, the Houthis denied launching any attacks against Saudi Arabia on Friday.
The latest developments come amid growing fears that the conflict could further destabilise the Middle East and disrupt vital international energy supplies.
