Regional tensions intensified on Sunday as Israel rejected a 15-point Gaza proposal announced by US President Donald Trump, while Iran and Oman moved closer to a temporary arrangement aimed at managing shipping through the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel would not withdraw its forces from Gaza until Hamas was fully disarmed, rejecting the US-backed framework. Hamas, however, said it remained committed to the proposed roadmap and expected mediators and Washington to pressure Israel to implement the agreement.
Meanwhile, Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels attacked the government-held port of Mokha on the Red Sea, killing at least seven people and injuring 15 civilians, according to Yemeni officials. The attack damaged port facilities, piers, commercial goods and food supplies. The Houthis also claimed a drone strike on an Aramco refinery in Saudi Arabia, where the Energy Ministry reported a fire but no casualties.
Iran-Oman talks over Strait of Hormuz
Diplomatic efforts were also underway to establish a temporary mechanism for shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, with Iran and Oman reportedly working on an arrangement under which vessels could enter near Iran and exit near Oman without paying fees or tolls.
However, Iranian officials stressed that the proposed maritime arrangement did not necessarily mean the strait would fully reopen. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said negotiations with Oman over “new maritime routes” were in their final stages, but reopening the waterway would depend on conditions communicated through intermediaries.
Iran has also indicated that vessels linked to countries it considers hostile could be denied passage. Reports from Iranian media said the United States and Israel were among those potentially affected.
The Strait of Hormuz remains a critical global shipping chokepoint, making any restrictions on vessel movement a major concern for energy supplies, freight and international trade.
US faces pressure on weapons stocks
The escalating conflict is also putting pressure on US military inventories. Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell said Washington was accelerating munitions purchases to ensure sufficient weapons for its forces.
A Centre for Strategic and International Studies analysis said the conflict had further depleted already limited US stocks of advanced missile interceptors, raising concerns among allies including Ukraine and Taiwan.
With Gaza ceasefire efforts stalled, attacks continuing across the Red Sea region and uncertainty surrounding the Strait of Hormuz, the latest developments highlight the growing risks to global shipping, energy flows and supply-chain stability across the Middle East.
