A U.S. official stated that Iran was responsible for an attack on a cargo ship near the coast of Oman in the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations reported that the vessel was struck by an unknown projectile, causing damage to the bridge but no casualties or environmental impact. The ship was reportedly sailing under a Singapore flag.
CNBC inquired with the White House regarding whether the attack violated a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Iran, which had paused hostilities for 60 days to facilitate peace talks. The White House confirmed that no frozen funds would be released unless Iran met the MOU's requirements.
Iran's parliament speaker, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, criticized U.S. claims that unfrozen Iranian assets would be used to purchase U.S. agricultural products. He stated that the only crop Iran is harvesting is mistrust towards the U.S. The White House reiterated that any released Iranian assets would be used to buy American agricultural products.
Additionally, the White House requested nearly $88 billion in supplemental spending for costs related to the war against Iran, which faced opposition from congressional Democrats. A Senate resolution aimed at giving Congress authority to stop the war was rejected after a closed-door meeting with President Trump and Senate Republicans.
Reports also indicated that Iran is seeking to charge for security and environmental services in the Strait of Hormuz, a proposal that has been rejected by U.S. officials. The Strait is a critical passage for global oil shipments, with 20% of the world's oil consumption passing through it before the onset of hostilities in February.