Yemen’s Houthi rebels claimed responsibility Sunday for an attack on an oil facility in southwestern Saudi Arabia, stating it was in retaliation for Saudi drone incursions into Yemeni airspace. The Saudi Energy Ministry confirmed a fire at an Aramco refinery in Jazan, which was extinguished without reported casualties.
This incident marks the latest in a series of missile and drone attacks by the Iran-backed Houthis targeting Saudi Arabia and Red Sea shipping lanes. The group's military spokesperson, Yahya Saree, said the drone strike on the Jazan refinery was a response to Saudi drones breaching the airspace over Hajjah and Saada provinces.
Iran's Demands on Strait of Hormuz
Meanwhile, Iran has presented new demands concerning the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. The Supreme National Security Council stated that the vital waterway will not reopen until the United States alters its behavior and meets several conditions. These demands include an end to U.S. threats against Iran, compensation for war damages, lifting of sanctions, and unconditional release of frozen assets.
Iran’s state broadcaster quoted the council's secretary, Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr, who is also a commander in the Revolutionary Guard, detailing these requirements. The U.S. has not yet commented on these latest demands.
Discussions are underway between Iran and Oman to finalize a temporary agreement that would allow ships to transit the Strait of Hormuz. The proposed interim deal would involve ships using a route near Iran for entry and a route near Oman for exit, without incurring fees or tolls during this period. This agreement aims to revive a prior U.S.-Iran accord and reset a 60-day negotiation clock regarding Iran's nuclear program.
The terms of the deal, which has the endorsement of Gulf Cooperation Council members, are expected to be jointly announced by Iran, Oman, the U.S., and the UN's International Maritime Organization upon finalization, though they remain subject to change.
Pentagon Boosts Weapons Production
In parallel, the Pentagon is actively urging the U.S. defense industry to expedite the production of weapons. Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell stated that the department is prioritizing munitions acquisitions to ensure warfighters have the necessary weapons at a pace that matches the current threat.
Analysis from the Center for Strategic and International Studies suggests that the conflict has depleted U.S. military stockpiles of advanced missile interceptors. Parnell indicated that this push for accelerated delivery is part of a broader modernization initiative that predates the ongoing five-month conflict.