War in the Middle East: the latest developments

Here are the latest developments on Tuesday related to the war in the Middle East, where a fragile ceasefire came into effect on April 8:

– Oil Falls After Sharp Rise Oil prices are declining again on Tuesday morning in Asia, following a surge on Monday. Around 03:10 GMT, the West Texas Intermediate (WTI) barrel, the U.S. market benchmark, was down 2.15% at $104.13. Meanwhile, the Brent barrel, the global market benchmark, was losing 1.26% at $113.

On Monday evening in the United States, Brent closed with a 5.80% increase and WTI with a 4.36% jump, after new attacks in the United Arab Emirates and the Strait of Hormuz despite the truce between the U.S. and Iran.

– Japan: First Russian Oil Delivery Since Start of War A cargo of Russian crude oil arrived in Japan on Monday, marking Moscow’s first delivery to the country since the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz due to the war in the Middle East, according to local media.

– New Press Conference in Washington U.S. Defense Minister Pete Hegseth is set to hold a new press conference in Washington on Tuesday morning alongside Chief of Staff of the Army General Dan Caine.

– Macron Calls Iranian Strikes on the Emirates “Unacceptable” French President Emmanuel Macron denounced the Iranian strikes on Emirati civilian infrastructure on Monday as unjustified and unacceptable, expressing France’s support for the Emirates and calling for the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and security guarantees for the region.

– Riyadh Calls for Continued Mediation Saudi Arabia warned against further military escalation in the Gulf and urged the continuation of mediation efforts between Iran and the United States to reach a political solution and avoid further tensions and instability in the region.

– Starmer Condemns Iranian Attacks British Prime Minister Keir Starmer “condemned” the Iranian attacks on the United Arab Emirates and called for an end to the “escalation.” He added that Iran must genuinely engage in negotiations to ensure the Middle East ceasefire endures and a long-term diplomatic solution is achieved.

– Berlin Urges Tehran to Stop Holding the Region Hostage German Chancellor Friedrich Merz wrote condemning Iran’s attacks on the United Arab Emirates and calling on Iran to return to negotiations and stop holding the region and the world hostage. He also stated that the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz must end.

– Iran Denies Targeting the Emirates, Denounces “American Military Adventurism” The Islamic Republic stated it did not intend to target the significant Emirati oil site of Fujairah, denouncing the consequences of “American military adventurism” in reference to an operation announced by Donald Trump to block ships in the Gulf by closing Hormuz.

– Von der Leyen Condemns Iranian Strikes on the Emirates European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen denounced the Iran attacks as a blatant violation of sovereignty and international law, expressing complete solidarity with the United Arab Emirates.

– Hormuz: No “Damage” Apart from South Korean Ship Hit, According to Trump President Trump assured that there were no “damages” in the Strait of Hormuz except for shots fired at a South Korean vessel. South Korea’s Foreign Ministry reported an “explosion” followed by a fire on a ship chartered by a South Korean company in the strait.

– U.S. Military Announces Destruction of Six Iranian Boats, Tehran Denies American forces announced the destruction of six Iranian boats and the effective neutralization of missiles and drones launched by Iran against U.S. Navy ships and commercial vessels. A commander of the ideological Revolutionary Guards stated none of their ships were destroyed and accused the U.S. of killing five civilians targeting two boats leaving Oman for the Iranian coast.

– Oman: Two Injured in Attack on Residential Building Two foreigners were injured in an attack on a residential building in the coastal city of Bukha, Oman, on the Hormuz Strait, as reported by state media.

– Emirates: Three Injured in Strike on Oil Site A drone attack on the Fujairah oil site in the United Arab Emirates injured three Indian nationals, according to local authorities.

– Renewed Iranian Strikes on the Emirates The United Arab Emirates announced it was targeted by Iranian drone attacks and intercepted cruise missiles, the first strikes from Tehran in over a month, affecting the ceasefire. The Emirati Foreign Ministry reacted, calling the attacks a dangerous escalation and unacceptable transgression, reserving the country’s legitimate right to respond.

– South Lebanon: Hezbollah Reports Clashes with Israeli Army The pro-Iranian Hezbollah reported ongoing clashes in a southern Lebanon border town with Israeli forces, despite the ceasefire in effect.