Hormuz reaches near-standstill as US expands strikes on Iran civilian infrastructure

One of the most important oil trade routes on the planet has reached a near standstill during a week of constant strikes in the Iran war. According to analytics firm Kpler, on Thursday, there were only eight crossings in the Strait of Hormuz, the lowest level of activity in three weeks. Before the war, crossings exceeded 130 on a typical day. On Friday, the national average gas price rose to $3.98, marking a second consecutive 5-cent overnight jump, according to AAA. Before the war, the average price was $2.98. U.S. Central Command released a video it said shows Marines boarding a tanker in the Gulf of Oman to verify compliance with the United States' blockade on Iranian ports and coastal areas. It also released unclassified footage of a "successfully destroyed" port surveillance tower used to track and target commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz. "The destruction of the tower directly degrades (the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps') ability to coordinate attacks on innocent civilian crew members. Furthermore, the strike protects freedom of navigation in regional waters for all vessels, except for ships attempting to violate the ongoing U.S. naval blockade against Iran," CENTCOM said. This week, an Iranian military spokesperson warned the United States against interference in the strait, calling it "Iran's unbreakable red line." Iranian state media posted video and images of destroyed bridges they said were hit by American strikes. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said three villagers were killed while crossing one of those bridges in southern Iran. In an interview earlier this week, President Donald Trump said he would start hitting bridges and power plants if the regime didn't agree to negotiate. Nour News, which is linked to Iran's Supreme National Council, said the United States "is no longer aiming for a quick victory." "(The United States) is waging a war of attrition against Iran. Countries that provide bases and infrastructure for American aggression against Iran are becoming parties to the conflict and cannot escape its consequences. It is time to shift from response to cost imposition," the outlet said. READ MORE: https://13wham.com/news/nation-world/... _______________ Stay up to date with our social media: 13 WHAM on Facebook:   / 13wham   13 WHAM on Twitter:   / 13wham   13WHAM on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/13whamtv/?h... 13WHAM on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@13wham?lang=en 13 WHAM Daily Local News Digest:    • 13WHAM Local News Digest   For more information, visit https://13wham.com/ Have a news tip? Send it directly to us: Email us: [email protected] Call the Newsroom: (585) 334-8700 WHAM is a NY based station and a ABC Television affiliate owned and operated by Deerfield Media, Inc and receives certain services from an affiliation of Sinclair Broadcast Group. Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc. is one of the largest and most diversified television broadcasting companies in the country today. #13WHAM #News #Rochester #NewYork