Taking over
** U.S. President Donald Trump said Monday that the United States is “reinstating” a blockade on Iran in the Strait of Hormuz and will charge ships for safe passage, after another heavy exchange of fire threatened negotiations aimed at ending the war.
Talking
** President Donald Trump said on Friday that the United States and Iran had agreed to continue talks despite a recent escalation of hostilities, but he flatly declared that the ceasefire reached between the two sides last month was no longer in effect.
Closed
** Tehran on Sunday claimed attacks on Bahrain, Kuwait, Jordan, Qatar and Oman, calling them its response to renewed US bombings on cities along its southern coast. The widescale US strikes came after Iran shut the Strait of Hormuz — a critical waterway and one of the biggest flashpoints in the conflict — accusing Washington of violating a memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed between the two sides last month.
Ship traffic
** Days of attacks and counterattacks between the US and Iran cut traffic in the Strait of Hormuz by more than half this past week, but the economic ripples — so far, at least — haven’t been quite as dramatic.
Rebuilding?
** Exclusive satellite imagery obtained and analyzed by CNN shows signs Iran may be attempting to rebuild its nuclear facilities. The activity raises questions as to whether Iran violated the memorandum of understanding it signed with the US in late June – even before President Trump seemed to signal its end by launching fresh strikes on the country.
New targets?
** Iran responded to the president’s latest remarks with a threat to bomb oil wells in the region if the U.S. were to conduct more strikes.
Higher prices
** Drivers are braced for higher diesel prices after Russia triggered a global supply crunch by halting exports. The wholesale price of diesel jumped by almost 14pc in the wake of the Kremlin’s announcement on Wednesday, which threatens to drive up costs at the pump.
US Energy
** The Trump administration touts the launch of the Freedom Fuel Network as the private company opens 25 gas stations selling fuel for well below market averages in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
** Prince George’s County in Maryland passes a two-year moratorium on data center development.
** Some data center owners say they’re being transparent and careful of their water use in Nebraska as some parts of the state experience extreme drought and lawmakers look to force companies to disclose water use.
** Missouri is among states considering expanding or building new nuclear power capacity to meet rising demand from data centers, manufacturing, and electric vehicles.
** The company Cadiz Inc. has been trying for years to pump groundwater in the Mojave Desert and ship it to thirsty cities in California. Now, the Trump administration has signed off on part of its plan: converting an oil and gas pipeline to transport water across the desert.
** Republican Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte suspends Public Service Commission member Brad Molnar after multiple staffers accuse him of sexual harassment, discrimination, and retaliatory behavior.
