Middle East Crisis Escalates: Kuwait and Jordan Intercept Iranian Missiles Following Fresh US Strikes

Explosions have been heard in several parts of southern Iran following new strikes that come after two supertankers were struck in the Strait of Hormuz. At a G20 meeting, Bessent stated that the Strait of Hormuz will be 'worthless' within two years, adding that Iran is lashing out amid intense economic pressure.

Meanwhile, Pezeshkian has left the door open to US talks as the Iran economy reels, and Putin told Pezeshkian that Russia stands with the Iranian people. In regional diplomacy, Saudi and Omani leaders discussed regional security in Muscat, Aoun pressed Greece to ensure Israel implements the Lebanon deal in full, and the Qatari PM met the Iranian foreign minister in Tehran, while France focuses on Gulf diplomacy amid the Hormuz crisis.

Amid the escalating US-Iran escalation ahead of the SCO summit, Trump stated that Iran is a failing nation and remarked that Vance says Trump is sending a warning to Iran with an AI video. As Trump posts the AI video amid fresh US-Iran strikes, panic buying has broken out as fuel shortages hit Iran, and the Iran ambassador lost diplomatic immunity in Lebanon. Markets are also reacting, with Manus on Markets questioning if US sanctions could shock the system.