>>24905968

Indian Cargo Vessel Sinks After Apparent Attack Near Yemen

Mike Schuler August 4, 2026

An Indian-flagged cargo vessel sank in the Red Sea on Monday after being struck by what appears to have been an explosives-laden boat off Yemen, marking another escalation in the growing threat to commercial shipping in the region.

India’s Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal, said the mechanized sailing vessel Faize Noore Oliya was hit by a projectile near Yemeni waters, causing it to capsize and sink.

“India strongly condemns this unprovoked attack on the defenseless mechanised sailing vessel,” Sonowal wrote on X. “The safety of our people is our supreme priority.”

He said all 14 crew members, including 13 Indian nationals, were rescued safely by the Yemeni Coast Guard and taken to the Port of Mokha. Sonowal added that he had directed India’s Director General Maritime Administration (DGMA) to coordinate with relevant agencies to ensure the safety of Indian seafarers operating in the region and provide assistance to the rescued crew.

India’s Ministry of External Affairs also condemned the incident, calling for an end to attacks on commercial shipping in the region. “The continuing incidents of attacks on commercial shipping in the region are deeply worrisome,” the ministry said in a statement. “The targeting of commercial shipping in the region must end, and free and unimpeded navigation and commerce through the international waterways in the region, in keeping with international law, must be restored at the earliest.”

Maritime intelligence firm Windward said its analysis indicates the vessel was struck by an explosives-laden boat approximately 13 nautical miles south of Hodeidah on August 4. No casualties were reported.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attack, but Windward said the location and apparent method are consistent with previous Houthi operations, while cautioning that attribution has not been confirmed.

The sinking comes amid a renewed surge in attacks on commercial shipping linked to the Houthis’ expanding maritime campaign.

Last week, the Houthis claimed responsibility for attacking the Saudi-flagged chemical and products tanker NCC GHAZAL, saying the vessel had violated what the group describes as its maritime blockade of Saudi ports. Maritime security analysts said the vessel was reportedly struck by anti-ship missiles in the southern Red Sea and forced to turn back, although Saudi authorities have not confirmed the claim.

The attack also follows India’s recent efforts to protect its merchant mariners operating in the region. Last month, the DGMA advised Indian shipping companies to exercise heightened caution when operating near the Strait of Hormuz and other high-risk waters as regional tensions intensified.

https://gcaptain.com/indian-cargo-vessel-sinks-after-apparent-attack-near-yemen/

Iran Says Hormuz Shipping Route Announcement With Oman Nears

Reporting by Elwely Elwelly and Menna Ala El Din Reuters August 5, 2026

2 hours ago

DUBAI, Aug 5 (Reuters) – Iran and Oman have reached an understanding on the geographic coordinates for a shipping route through the Strait of Hormuz, and a joint announcement is being finalized, provided certain third parties did not interfere, Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said on Wednesday.

Baghaei added that any such agreement between Iran and Oman would not, by itself, guarantee security in the strategic waterway.

The proposed deal between Iran and Oman would give Tehran control over ships entering the Gulf through the Strait of Hormuz, a senior Iranian source and two regional officials told Reuters on Wednesday, in one of the biggest concessions yet to Iran.

Despite the apparent step towards yielding to Iranian demands, the sources pushed back against assertions by U.S. President Donald Trump that a deal reopening the strait was imminent, saying important details still had to be agreed.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei described the negotiations between Tehran and Muscat as “professional” and “moving forward,” saying “the two sides had reached a mutual understanding on the geographical parameters of the route under discussion.”

Baghaei added that, if some third parties do not obstruct the process, the joint statement between the two countries, containing the main considerations and key points of understanding, was in the final stages of review and drafting.

https://gcaptain.com/iran-says-hormuz-shipping-route-deal-with-oman-nears-joint-announcement/

Related:

Draft Hormuz Deal Would Give Iran Control Over Gulf-Bound Ships, Sources Say

By Parisa Hafezi and Timour Azhari Reuters August 5, 2026

DUBAI/RIYADH, Aug 5 (Reuters) – A proposed deal between Iran and Oman would give Tehran control over ships entering the Gulf through the Strait of Hormuz, a senior Iranian source and two regional officials told Reuters on Wednesday, in one of the biggest concessions yet to Iran.

Despite the apparent step towards yielding to Iranian demands, the sources pushed back against assertions by U.S. President Donald Trump that a deal reopening the strait was imminent, saying important details still had to be agreed.

“The concession has already been made regarding some form of control over Hormuz,” one of the regional sources told Reuters.

The other regional source said there were still details to be determined about how “control” would be defined, with Gulf negotiators insisting regional countries supervise inspections of ships, and that any payment of fees be voluntary.

The senior Iranian source said that the text of an agreement already on the table envisioned Iran having control of ships heading into the Gulf through the strait, and that one of the main sticking points was what role Iran would also have over ships heading in the opposite direction.

There was no immediate reply from Washington to the disclosures about the proposed agreement.

U.S. officials have repeatedly insisted that they would never accept any arrangement that lets Iran control access to the world’s most important trade route for energy supplies. But Trump and senior officials in his administration have said in recent days that a deal is imminent to end the war he launched in February and which polls show most U.S. voters oppose.

More:

https://gcaptain.com/draft-hormuz-deal-would-give-iran-control-over-gulf-bound-ships-sources-say/

I'm going to guess Iran is trying to drive a wedge between Oman and the United States

>>24906090 (me)

Other Iran related:

Dozens of Idling Iranian Oil Tankers Show US Blockade Is Working

By Bloomberg News August 5, 2026

Aug 5, 2026 (Bloomberg) –A growing flotilla of Iranian oil tankers is gathering off the country’s coast, a sign the renewed US naval blockade is disrupting Tehran’s energy exports and depriving it of much-needed revenue.

Some 50 laden vessels — mostly carrying crude, but also fuels and liquefied petroleum gas — were idling along Iran’s coastline in the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman as of Tuesday, according to nonprofit group United Against Nuclear Iran. That’s up from 45 a week earlier and 36 when the blockade was renewed on July 14.

The US action, intended to stop activity at Iranian ports, is impeding the export of oil but also prevents the return of empty vessels needed for fresh loadings.

“The blockade seems effective,” given the increase in the number of ships along the coast, said Charlie Brown, an adviser to UANI. Tankers are continuing to load LPG and other petroleum products from Iranian ports, suggesting smaller vessels may still attempt to get past the blockade, he said.

The buildup comes as hopes rise for a potential interim deal between Washington and Tehran to free up shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. Qatar said a proposal had been drafted, and both US and Iranian officials sounded optimistic about reopening the critical waterway.

UANI said it hasn’t tracked any laden Iranian crude tanker successfully leaving the Gulf of Oman without encountering US enforcement since the blockade was reinstated. However, it’s possible some ships have gotten out undetected by turning their transponders off.

Fresh offers of Iranian crude have been scarce since the US threatened strikes on the country last week, according to traders familiar with the matter. Sellers are holding back cargoes and seeking higher prices due to the blockade, they said, asking not to be named as the discussions are private. Iranian Light for delivery next month was offered at discounts of about $4 a barrel to ICE Brent this week, narrowing from about $5 a week earlier, the traders said.

Weak Demand

For Iranian oil that’s already in Asian waters, demand remains weak in China, which takes the lion’s share of the country’s shipments. Independent refiners there, historically Tehran’s biggest customers, are operating well below normal as margins remain negative. Plants in Shandong province, where most of the so-called teapots are located, were running at just over 48% of capacity as of July 31, compared with a five-year seasonal average of nearly 60%, according to Mysteel OilChem.

Tepid consumption and the ongoing blockade means the amount of Iranian oil on the water worldwide is growing. The country’s crude in floating storage — meaning ships that have been idle for at least seven days — has climbed 14% to 135 million barrels in the month through Tuesday, according to Vortexa Ltd. Most of the increase occurred in the Yellow Sea, between China and the Korean peninsula, and near the teapot hub of Shandong.

Bloomberg has also observed a growing cluster of Iranian crude tankers off the southeastern coast of peninsular Malaysia, while UANI said it had identified at least seven laden vessels from the Islamic Republic idling near Sri Lanka.

The finite pool of Iranian crude already outside the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman becomes increasingly important should the US blockade continue.

“This round of US blockade threatens to throttle Iranian oil floaters in the months to come,” said Emma Li, lead China market analyst at Vortexa.

https://gcaptain.com/dozens-of-idling-iranian-oil-tankers-show-us-blockade-is-working/

>>24906065

Rant and rave more, it amuses me

>>24906137

>More rural Americans are burned out literally, their homes and lands destroyed for Trump supported data centers, and 15 minute city devolvement's.

Really, where?

>Trump will build and profit in Gaza off of American financed Genocide, complicit with our greatest ally, who now is integrated with the US military for Greater Israel.

Sounds great

>August can be hot, for the families the government is burning out, not hot for the criminal cabal gangsters.

Again, where are the families being burned out? California? Canada?

It's not like Media would announce anybody they are connected to or fond of getting picked up

>>24906159

J'ai une boîte à crayons rouge

>>24906176

Far better than you trying to convince people of anything with hand painted plywood signs in the bed of your truck

>>24906196

>>24906220

Nominate for Notable

"Gang of 8" info sheets