"Iran prepared to close the Strait of Hormuz" - American sources: Mines were planned to be placed in the waterway
Iran planned to lay mines in the Strait of Hormuz, according to US officials. Closing the waterway would cause major damage to global trade.
The Iranian military loaded ships with naval mines in the Persian Gulf last month, raising concerns in Washington that Tehran was preparing to block the Strait of Hormuz. This came after Israeli attacks on targets in Iran on June 13, two US officials said.
The loading of mines, which have not yet been placed in the strait, suggests that Tehran may have seriously considered closing one of the world's most important waterways for commercial shipping. Such an action would have significantly escalated the conflict and severely damaged global trade.
About a fifth of global oil and gas shipments pass through the Strait of Hormuz, and a blockade of it risks causing a significant increase in world energy prices.
However, global oil prices have fallen by more than 10% since the US airstrikes on Iran's nuclear facilities, partly as a result of the easing of the conflict.
On June 22, shortly after the US bombing of three key nuclear facilities in Iran, the Iranian parliament reportedly supported a measure to block the strait.
However, the decision was not binding, and according to state broadcaster Press TV, it was Iran's Supreme National Security Council that would make the final decision on the closure. Over the years, Iran has threatened to close the strait several times, but has never actually carried out such a measure. It also remains unclear whether the mines have since been removed.
The sources did not disclose how the United States was able to determine that mines had been placed on Iranian ships, but such information is usually gathered through satellite imagery, secret human sources, or a combination of the two.
US Senate approves tax bill - Document predicts deficit increase, cuts to social programs
The US Senate narrowly passed Donald Trump's tax and spending bill, a bill that has been criticized by the opposition for increasing the debt and cutting......
Greece, subsidy scandal "shocks" the government - Several ministers resign after accusations of embezzlement of EU funds
A scandal involving agricultural subsidies received from the European Union has rocked the Greek government. International investigations have uncovered......
Pensions, over 22 thousand contributors added to the scheme - The figure reaches a record / The village, the private and the state expand
The Albanian economy has performed positively over the past year, with the indicator being not only the significant increase in revenues in the state budget......
Plan of measures for tourism, Labor Inspectorate field inspections - Focus on reporting on wages, overtime and employment of minors
The State Labor Inspectorate has drafted a plan of measures for the control of entities that exercise their activities during the tourist season throughout......
Pensions from Italy, here are the documents needed - Agreement in implementation, applications from Albania and Italy begin
The new Albania-Italy social security agreement, which enters into force today, guarantees for the first time the right for contributions paid in both......
General fluctuations in the foreign exchange market – Volatility continues for the Dollar and Euro!
The US dollar, although it started the day positively, seems to have lost points this Wednesday compared to yesterday, being bought today at 82.7 lek and......
Balluku on Marta Kos's statement: Proud of the progress of the process of membership in the European family!
Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku expresses her pride in the progress of the process of membership in the European family. For him, Commissioner Marta......
Brits are leaving the Mediterranean for Albania - TikTok influencers are driving the trend to visit Albania
A new wave of tourists from the United Kingdom is abandoning traditional Mediterranean destinations like Malaga and Benidorm to discover cheaper and less......
