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Middle East Situation Update: Iran to Announce New Strait of Hormuz Route, US Claims 65 Merchant Ships Redirected

On August 20, the situation in the Middle East remains tense. Iran has warned that if the United States escalates military actions, it may consider striking military targets within Europe; at the same time, Iran stated that any country providing assistance to the US military will be seen as participating in military actions against Iran. Regarding the Strait of Hormuz, US President Trump stated that "the US has complete control over the Strait," and mentioned that the blockade may continue in the future while reducing the strategic importance of the Strait by constructing more pipelines. Iran has indicated that discussions with Oman currently only involve matters related to the Strait of Hormuz, with Iranian lawmakers claiming that both sides are about to release a joint statement announcing a new route through the Strait. The US Central Command reported that as of August 19, US actions have forced 65 merchant ships to change their routes, resulting in 3 ships becoming inoperable and 2 ships being boarded for inspection to ensure compliance with relevant requirements. On the diplomatic front, Trump stated that negotiations with Iran "may take place at the appropriate time," but Iran has denied any direct dialogue with the US. Iranian Parliament Speaker Qalibaf stated that his visit to Iraq aims to promote the construction of a new regional order and strengthen cooperation among regional countries without external interference. Additionally, the Governor of the Central Bank of Iran stated that, to date, no funds have been released from assets frozen under the agreement framework; the Iranian Foreign Minister spoke with the Pakistani Army Chief to discuss regional situations and promote political and diplomatic solutions. In other developments, the Israeli Ambassador to the US stated that the Israeli military does not need to withdraw until Hamas is "completely disarmed"; NATO officials reported that Jordan's air defense system had intercepted ballistic missiles heading from Iran to Turkey four times, emphasizing that NATO's defensive posture is "strong and effective." In the energy market, there is ongoing concern about risks in the Strait of Hormuz, keeping crude oil prices high due to regional tensions. Iranian media reported that Iran has earned $7.5 billion in oil-related foreign exchange revenue in the first four months of this year; the Vice Chairman of the Yemeni Presidential Council stated that the maritime supply line and smuggling route between Iran and the Houthis have been cut off.

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