US strikes again
** The United States conducted more airstrikes against “multiple targets” in Iran on Saturday as retaliation for recent attacks by the Islamic nation, the US Central Command said. CENTCOM says that after the US struck Iran Friday in response to an Iranian attack on a ship called the M/V Ever Lovely, the Iran “was given a chance to honor the ceasefire agreement but elected not to when its forces launched a one-way attack drone that hit M/T Kiku this morning at 4:30 a.m. ET.”
Iran’s response
** Iran accused the United States on Saturday of violating their deal to end the Middle East war and hit US targets in the Gulf in retaliation for US strikes on Iranian territory. The exchange of fire, which came after Washington accused Tehran of attacking a cargo ship in the Strait of Hormuz, raised doubts about efforts to keep the crucial waterway open while both sides negotiate a final deal.
Not answering
** Iran has indicated that there will be no direct communication between US and Iranian military officials as part of a hotline proposed by Washington designed to ease tensions in the Strait of Hormuz. Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) spokesman Hossein Mohebi downplayed reports on Friday of direct communications being established between the US and Iran to manage the strategically important waterway.
Russia’s gain
** Russia has emerged as one of the clearest commercial beneficiaries of the US-Israel war with Iran. Before March 2026, buying Russian crude was widely treated as a sanctions risk that only Chinese and, to a lesser extent, Indian private companies could comfortably absorb. As a result of the war, Russia became an emergency supplier to India and other parts of Asia.
USA Energy
** Nexus Fulcrum proposes a 510-MW behind-the-meter gas plant in northern Nevada to power proposed hyperscale data centers.
** A judge orders the federal government and Wyoming to repay energy companies $109 million for illegally approved oil and gas leases canceled by a court earlier this month.
** Missouri utility regulators will meet with nonprofits and consumer advocates to find ways to better distribute utility assistance after a study found a third of state residents say they don’t make enough to get by.
** South Dakota utility regulators approve the merger of investor-owned utilities North Western Energy and Black Hills Energy.
** Demand from the booming data center sector and liquified natural gas exporters is spurring a surge of Texas pipeline projects, including a planned 580-mile project connecting Houston to the Permian Basin.
