Latest news with #IranThreats
Skift
5 hours ago
- Politics
- Skift
Qatar Closes Airspace as Regional Crisis Grows
As a crisis in the Middle East intensifies, Qatar — which hosts the largest U.S. military base in the region — is temporarily closing its airspace. Qatar is temporarily closing its airspace amid Iranian threats of retaliation against the U.S. to 'ensure the safety of citizens, residents and visitors,' the country's foreign ministry account posted on X on Monday. At the time Qatar announced the airspace closure, there were 100 flights bound for Doha, according to Flightradar24. Iranian and Israeli airspace had been closed since last week as attacks between the countries intensified.
Reuters
9 hours ago
- Politics
- Reuters
US embassy in Qatar recommends sheltering in place, Qatar says situation stable
DOHA, June 23 (Reuters) - The U.S. embassy in Qatar emailed U.S. citizens in the Gulf country on Monday recommending that they shelter in place until further notice, triggering a slew of messages from various Doha-based institutions to employees and students while Qatar maintained the situation was stable. The embassy's advice comes as Iran repeated earlier threats to retaliate against the United States after strikes on its nuclear sites. The U.S. embassy message noted that the recommendation was "out of an abundance of caution" and offered no further information. Commenting on the message, Qatari foreign ministry spokesperson Majed Al Ansari said in a statement that the security situation in the country remained stable, adding that the embassy's advisory did not suggest any specific threat. Al Ansari said Qatar was ready to take all necessary measures to ensure the safety of its citizens and residents. Qatar hosts Al Udeid Air Base, the largest U.S. base in the Middle East, which serves as the forward headquarters for U.S. Central Command and accommodates approximately 10,000 troops. There was confusion among residents in Qatar over how to react to the mixed messages coming from Qatari and embassy authorities on Monday afternoon. The Qatar campuses of American universities offered differing advice to their staff and students, with Texas A&M University saying an evacuation of their building had been ordered, Northwestern University requesting that people go home and Georgetown University telling people they could go home if they wished. The American School, which is not in session, closed its campus and cancelled summer camps until further notice.
Yahoo
9 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
What is the Strait of Hormuz and why is it so important for oil?
STORY: Iran's top security body is to make a final decision on whether to close the Strait of Hormuz, Iranian TV said on Sunday. Iran has in the past threatened to close the strait, which is all-important for oil trade, but has never followed through on the move. :: What is the Strait of Hormuz? The strait lies between Oman and Iran. It is 21 miles wide at its narrowest point, with the shipping lane just 2 miles wide. :: Why does it matter? About a fifth of the world's total oil consumption passes through the strait. Over the past three years, an estimated 17 to 20.8 million barrels of crude have passed through the strait daily. OPEC members Saudi Arabia, Iran, the UAE, Kuwait and Iraq export most of their crude via the strait, mainly to Asia. Although the UAE and Saudi Arabia have sought routes to bypass it. Qatar, among the world's biggest liquefied natural gas exporters, sends almost all of its LNG through the strait. :: History of tensions There have been scores of incidents involving the strait over the years. In 1973, Arab producers led by Saudi Arabia slapped an oil embargo on Western supporters of Israel in its war with Egypt. During the 1980-1988 Iran-Iraq War, the two sides sought to disrupt each other's exports. And in 1988, a U.S. warship shot down an Iranian airliner, killing all 290 aboard. Washington said it was an accident, Tehran insisted it was a deliberate attack. In 2012, Iran threatened to block the strait in retaliation for U.S. and European sanctions. And in May 2019, four vessels - including two Saudi oil tankers - were attacked off the UAE coast, outside the strait. :: What next? June Goh, senior oil market analyst at Sparta Commodities, said there would be many implications for Iran if they chose to close the strait. 'They depend on it for their own livelihood, for their own provisions and also for the export of their oil. So it is akin to shooting themselves (in) the foot.' Despite this, fears of a closure are sparking price hike expectations and already have shippers on edge. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Malay Mail
9 hours ago
- Business
- Malay Mail
What is the Strait of Hormuz — and why one-fifth of global oil is at risk as Iran threatens closure
TEHRAN, June 23 — Iran's top security body must make the final decision on whether to close the Strait of Hormuz, Iranian TV said yesterday, after parliament reportedly backed the measure in response to US strikes on several of Tehran's nuclear sites. Iran has in the past threatened to close the strait but has never followed through on the move, which would restrict trade and impact global oil prices. Below are details about the strait: A map showing the Strait of Hormuz is seen in this illustration taken June 22, 2025. — Reuters pic What is the Strait of Hormuz? The strait lies between Oman and Iran and links the Gulf north of it with the Gulf of Oman to the south and the Arabian Sea beyond. It is 21 miles (33km) wide at its narrowest point, with the shipping lane just 2 miles (3km) wide in either direction. Oil tankers pass through the Strait of Hormuz, December 21, 2018. — Reuters pic Why does it matter? About a fifth of the world's total oil consumption passes through the strait. Between the start of 2022 and last month, somewhere between 17.8 million and 20.8 million barrels of crude, condensate and fuels flowed through the strait daily, data from analytics firm Vortexa showed. Opec members Saudi Arabia, Iran, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and Iraq export most of their crude via the strait, mainly to Asia. The UAE and Saudi Arabia have sought to find other routes to bypass the strait. About 2.6 million barrels per day (bpd) of unused capacity from existing UAE and Saudi pipelines could be available to bypass Hormuz, the US Energy Information Administration said in June last year. Qatar, among the world's biggest liquefied natural gas exporters, sends almost all of its LNG through the strait. The US Fifth Fleet, based in Bahrain, is tasked with protecting commercial shipping in the area. History of tensions In 1973, Arab producers led by Saudi Arabia slapped an oil embargo on Western supporters of Israel in its war with Egypt. While Western countries were the main buyers of crude produced by the Arab countries at the time, nowadays Asia is the main buyer of Opec's crude. The US more than doubled its oil liquids production in the last two decades and has turned from the world's biggest oil importer into one of the top exporters. During the 1980-1988 Iran-Iraq War, the two sides sought to disrupt each other's exports in what was called the Tanker War. In July 1988, a US warship shot down an Iranian airliner, killing all 290 aboard, in what Washington said was an accident and Tehran said was a deliberate attack. In January 2012, Iran threatened to block the strait in retaliation for US and European sanctions. In May 2019, four vessels — including two Saudi oil tankers — were attacked off the UAE coast, outside the Strait of Hormuz. Three vessels, two in 2023 and one in 2024, were seized by Iran near or in the Strait of Hormuz. Some of the seizures followed US seizures of tankers related to Iran. — Reuters
