Evening Edition: The Pentagon Shares Damage Assessment Of Iranian Nuclear Facilities
The total damage to three Iranian nuclear sites after U.S. bombing strikes continues to be assessed, the Pentagon says the mission was a complete success stopping Iran's ability to develop a nuclear weapon. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth held a press briefing using various descriptions as – destroying, obliterating, decimating – the Iranian potential to enrich weapons grade uranium. There have been media reports and other military experts that question the claims the sites were destroyed or just set back by months or years.
Fox's John Saucier speaks to Jennifer Griffin, Chief National Security Correspondent for FOX News Channel, who says no one denies the success of the mission but the overall assessment of the damage is still being made.
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Amid Israel-Iran Tensions, Shipping Slows Down in Strait of Hormuz
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According to the JMIC, threat levels for ships operating in the Strait of Hormuz, Arabian Gulf and Northern Arabian Sea remain elevated. JMIC was clear in its advisory that 'there are no confirmed indications of an immediate threat to maritime traffic,' but confirmed reports of electronic interference affecting vessels' ability to accurately transmit positional data via automated identification systems (AIS) in both the strait and the Arabian Gulf. Jakob Larsen, head of security at international shipowners' association BIMCO, told CNBC the conflict resulted in a 'modest drop' in the number of ships sailing through the area. The attacks on Iran have created some concern that the country's military will block off access to the strait, which hosts the flow of approximately 20 percent of the world's liquid oil supply, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. But such a closure would impact container shipping operations as well, even though only 2 percent to 3 percent of estimated global container traffic passes through, according to data from Container Trade Statistics (CTS). Major Middle Eastern transshipment hubs in the UAE, including Dubai's Jebel Ali Port and Abu Dhabi's Khalifa Port, would lose access to the vessels and their cargo. These ports play a significant role in trade across the Middle Easta and facilitate large volumes of sea-to-air relay shipments, while also linking the region to markets in the Indian subcontinent and Africa. 'A ripple effect of such action would be a sharp increase in handlings in transshipment hubs outside of the Persian Gulf with high risk of a wider Asian congestion issue,' said Lars Jensen, CEO of Vespucci Maritime, in a post on LinkedIn. 'It would be a major problem related to imports and exports to and from Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait and Iraq. 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14 minutes ago
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Maersk Halts Haifa Port Calls, Citing Israel-Iran Safety Risks
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14 minutes ago
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'A complete closure would be to the detriment of Iran's relations with its neighbors and disruptive to the world's economy, which would impact its partners,' the circular read. 'It is assessed unnecessary to do this. There has been no designation of a combat area, which might disrupt shipping at large.' A closure of the strait could lead to oil price volatility, analysts say, that would cause another spike in global freight rates for container shipping. West Texas Intermediate crude oil futures, a leading benchmark for oil prices, spiked more than 6 percent above $75 per barrel after the U.S. airstrikes over the weekend, before edging back lower below $72 shortly after noon on Monday. Analysts at Goldman Sachs modeled a scenario where a 50-percent decline in oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz results in a 30-percent increase in crude oil prices. The Strait of Hormuz is a vital chokepoint in the oil supply chain, with an estimated 20 percent of the world's oil supply passing through, according to data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Thus far, container shipping has largely kept the status quo. Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd have stated that they will continue to transit the Strait of Hormuz as they continue to monitor developments in the region. Both carriers said they were evaluating the security risks to vessels and crews in the region, and are ready to change course if needed. CMA CGM is also staying the course for now, saying shipping is 'proceeding as normal in the area,' as 'logistics chains remain unchanged.' Japan's Nippon Yusen and Mitsui O.S.K. Lines have instructed their vessels to keep their time in the Persian Gulf as brief as possible. Although just 2 to 3 percent of container traffic passes through the Strait of Hormuz, which connects the Gulf of Oman and the Persian Gulf, there are multiple transshipment hubs in the U.A.E. like the Port of Jebel Ali and Khalifa Port that facilitate movement of cargo throughout the Middle East, as well as the Indian subcontinent and Africa. These ports would see significant traffic declines in the event of a blockade. China stands to be impacted the most of any country if the Strait of Hormuz gets closed off, as it is the recipient of 90 percent of Iran's oil exports, according to data from commodities, energy and maritime intelligence provider Kpler. As such, the country could have more sway in whether Iran's government approves a blockade of the trade artery, or to what extent a blockade would cover. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio urged China on Sunday to intervene to prevent Iran from closing the strait, and warned Tehran that such a move would be 'economic suicide' for Iran. Two large Chinese-operated crude carriers were among six tankers that shifted course on the way to the Strait of Hormuz over the weekend. Both ships, along with a third Norway-flagged vessel, ended up changing direction again to the Strait. Amid reports of electronic interference impacting vessels' GPS systems in the area, China has ordered its merchant fleet to report transits through the Strate of Hormuz back to Beijing. In a notice posted online Monday, the China Shipowners' Association (CSA) said it requires companies to report the vessel names, unique IMO numbers, type, flags, capacities, departure and destination ports, planned voyage times, crew sizes and daily movements through that region. The concerns related to the Strait of Hormuz also puts the safety of the Red Sea again in the spotlight, with Houthi spokesperson Yahya Saree indicating the Yemeni militant group is 'officially entering the war' against the U.S. and Israel. The Houthis had been in a ceasefire with the U.S. since early May after repeated American airstrikes in the months prior. The Yemeni faction has not attempted to attack any commercial vessels in the Red Sea in 2025, but most ocean carriers have been noncommittal about returning to the waterway In response to the statement, the Joint Maritime Information Center said Sunday in an advisory note that there is a 'high' threat to U.S.-associated commercial shipping in both the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. Ambrey assessed that since targets in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden have not been available to the Houthis, that 'this explains the lack of incidents.' 'It is assessed likely that they will resume the targeting of U.S.-affiliated shipping in the region when the opportunity arises,' the security firm said.
