Kuwait Intercepts Iranian Drones As Trump Warns Of Strikes On Energy Infrastructure; Oil Near $88

Kuwait’s armed forces intercepted drone attacks by Iran on Saturday that targeted "vital facilities" as the Trump administration weighs new strikes.

Falling shrapnel from drones caused "material damage," the Ministry of Defense spokesman, Major General Saud Abdulaziz Al-Otaibi, said in a statement.

No people were injured in the attack.

President Donald Trump is considering striking energy targets in Iran in the next few days, Axios reported, citing an unidentified U.S. official.

The president has not given the final order, the outlet reported.

Efforts to reach a lasting peace between the U.S. and Iran have stalled, with both sides accusing each other of breaching a mid-June interim ceasefire agreement.

The escalation in hostilities has pushed crude oil prices higher.

Brent crude oil prices rose 1.2% to near $88 a barrel on Friday, posting a nearly 24% gain in July.

This was the benchmark’s strongest monthly increase since March, driven by escalating geopolitical tensions and growing concerns over global oil supplies.

Talks in Doubt The U.S. and Iran had temporarily halted attacks against one another, suggesting a renewed effort to give talks a chance.

Central Command (CENTCOM) announced the first round of strikes against Iran on Wednesday in "a powerful response to yesterday’s attempted Iranian attacks on U.S. forces based in the Middle East." Trump has cast doubt on continued talks with Iran.

He repeated his threats to retaliate forcibly after an attack on a U.S. base in Jordan. "We’ll be hitting them very hard," the president said during a Cabinet meeting. "And at some point they’ll say we just can’t take it anymore." The strikes could also involve the Israeli military for the first time in many weeks, Axios reported.

That escalation would likely lead to Iranian missile attacks on Israel.

CBS reported separately that the U.S. is considering striking energy infrastructure, including oil refineries and power plants, which would mark a major escalation in the military campaign.

The bombing campaign would aim to get the Iranians to agree to the U.S.’s terms in ongoing ceasefire negotiations.

Iranian Claims Iran, however, has maintained its efforts to disrupt shipping through the strait.

A liquefied natural gas tanker carrying a shipment from Qatar was struck by a projectile while transiting the Strait of Hormuz, Security consultancies Vanguard Tech and Marisks identified the ship as the Gaslog Shanghai LNG tanker.

The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) had earlier alerted that a vessel was struck in the strait off the Omani coast overnight, without identifying it.

Another tanker reported seeing an explosion in the water near it, the UKMTO said in a separate alert.

The vessel wasn’t damaged.

U.S.

Maintains Blockade Iran claimed it attacked two tankers transiting the Strait of Hormuz under U.S. military escort, though Western maritime authorities have not confirmed the incident.

The critical body of water remains open to commercial vessel transit, U.S.

CENTCOM said in a statement posted on X.

Strait of Hormuz crossings fell 77% day on day to just five vessels, with all transits concentrated through the Iranian route, according to the latest data from ship-tracking firm Kpler.

The U.S. has maintained its maritime blockade against Iran.

Washington wants to prevent Tehran from exporting oil and refined products.

As of July 31, CENTCOM said it has redirected 30 commercial vessels, disabled two, and boarded two to ensure full compliance.

The U.S. military has also permitted nearly 30 ships to pass through the blockade for humanitarian aid.

Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, warned on Saturday that a continued U.S. naval blockade and escalation would not only tighten the lock on the Strait of Hormuz but also close other strategic chokepoints.

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