US launches ninth night of Iran strikes as strait of Hormuz standoff sees oil price pass $90 a barrel

• The United States and Iran are locked in a persistent "grey zone" conflict characterized by a cycle of military pressure and diplomatic overtures. • Despite Donald Trump's previous promises to avoid "forever wars," the current strategy suggests that diplomacy is being used to manage the conflict rather than resolve it.

• Russia launched a deadly attack near Odesa, Ukraine, contributing to ongoing conflict and regional instability. • In legal news, Mexican drug kingpin Ismael Zambada has been sentenced in the United States, marking a significant blow to organized crime networks.

• Former top officials from the Biden Administration are expressing regret over their failure to effectively restrain Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. • The officials claim that the administration's policies emboldened Israel's military aggression within the Gaza Strip and toward Iran.

• A London-based research group has proposed a shared control pact among Gulf states for the Strait of Hormuz, modeled after a defunct European coal and steel agreement. • The proposal aims to resolve an acrimonious dispute over the waterway, which serves as a critical chokehold for one-fifth of the global oil supply.

• Foreign Affairs Minister Abbas Araghchi suggested that critical decisions regarding negotiations were reached without the input of Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei. • This admission indicates potential internal friction or a breakdown in the decision-making hierarchy within the Iranian leadership.

• Oil prices have climbed above $90 a barrel following Iranian military attacks on two tankers in the Strait of Hormuz. • Tehran has criticized the U.S. by comparing Donald Trump's attacks on bridges to the tactics used by ISIS.

• The Iranian regime is facing a critical survival crisis driven by a convergence of internal fractures, including severe economic deterioration and persistent nationwide protests. • Key drivers of this instability include declining public legitimacy, leadership disputes, and significant uncertainty regarding the future of political succession.

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