Middle East developments remained in focus as rhetoric from Iran continued to harden while concerns over regional escalation persisted.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), according to Fars News, said it “will no longer allow the U.S. to replace its oil and ammunition reserves with deceptive ceasefires and then resume,” signaling that Tehran remains deeply skeptical of any pause in hostilities that could be used to regroup before military operations resume
The statement reinforces the confrontational tone that has characterized the conflict in recent days. Meanwhile, regional security concerns increased following reports that Iran sent IRGC commanders and missile-related equipment to Yemen’s Houthi movement earlier this month. If confirmed, the transfers would underscore Iran’s continued support for allied groups across the region and raise the risk of a broader expansion of the conflict, particularly around key shipping lanes in the Red Sea and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.
Together, the developments suggest geopolitical risks in the Middle East remain elevated, with energy markets and broader risk sentiment likely to remain sensitive to further headlines. On the political front in Washington, the U.S. House of Representatives passed an Iran war powers resolution by a 214-208 vote.