Hormuz Flashpoint: Iran says it will announce a new “restricted/prohibited” maritime zone outside the Strait of Hormuz in the coming days, starting from the US blockade line, with any ship entering flagged on a sanctions list; Tehran also dismissed US claims about an unmanned vessel attack as a “total lie” while warning of “faster, heavier, more painful” retaliation. US-Iran Maritime Clash: The US says it struck three Iranian oil tankers after IRGC ballistic-missile attacks on US Navy ships, while Iran counters with claims of hitting US-linked vessels and even a US drone—claims Washington denies. Energy Shock: Oil prices extended gains as tit-for-tat attacks raise fears of prolonged supply disruption through Hormuz, where traffic has slowed sharply; OPEC+ kept October output quotas unchanged. Israel-Palestine & Lebanon: Israel approved settler school expansion in Hebron and warned of desalination shutdown risk amid Gaza-related infrastructure strain; Qatar and partners condemned Israel over Gaza displacement calls, while the Arab League condemned Israeli attacks on southern Lebanon infrastructure. Regional Diplomacy: Egypt’s foreign ministerial outreach for the Arab League council meeting continues as tensions with Turkey remain a backdrop. Domestic Pressure in Iran: Iran raised gasoline prices for higher-usage consumers and says it will tackle sanctions-driven economic strain.