Tracking the situation in the Middle East: Iran says it will announce the new Hormuz channel; the US side says it has forced 65 merchant ships to be re-routed

Comparing news, the situation in the Middle East continues to be tense. Iran warned that if the US escalates military action, it may consider attacking military targets in Europe; at the same time, Iran said that any country providing any assistance to the US military will be regarded as participating in military operations against Iraq.

On the Strait of Hormuz issue, US President Trump stated that the US has full control over the strait, adding that it may continue to maintain the blockade in the future while reducing the strategic importance of the strait by building more pipelines. Iran, on the other hand, said that the current discussions with Oman only concern Hormuz affairs. Iranian lawmakers said that the two sides will soon issue a joint statement announcing a new strait channel.

The US Central Command said that as of August 19, the US action had forced 65 merchant ships to change their routes, causing 3 ships to lose their ability to operate, and to board and inspect 2 ships to ensure that they comply with the relevant requirements.

At the diplomatic level, Trump said negotiations with Iran might take place in due course, but Iran denied that it is in direct dialogue with the US. Iranian Parliament Speaker Kalibaf said that the purpose of visiting Iraq was to promote the establishment of a new regional order and strengthen cooperation among countries in the region without external interference.

Furthermore, the governor of Iran's central bank said that up to now, no funds have been unfrozen in the framework of the agreement; Iran's foreign minister spoke with the Pakistani army commander to discuss the regional situation and promote a political and diplomatic solution.

On the other hand, Israel's ambassador to the US said that there is no need for the Israeli military to withdraw until Hamas is completely disarmed; NATO officials said that the Jordanian air defense system had intercepted ballistic missiles flying from Iran to Turkey four times, and emphasized that NATO's defense posture is strong and effective.

In terms of the energy market, the market continues to pay attention to the risk in the Strait of Hormuz, and crude oil prices remain high due to regional tension. According to Iraqi media, Iran has received 7.5 billion US dollars of oil-related foreign exchange revenue in the first four months of this year; the vice chairman of the Yemeni Presidential Council said that it has cut off maritime supply lines and smuggling channels between Iran and the Houthis.