Iran blacklists 45 tankers in Strait of Hormuz escalation

Iran blacklisted 45 tankers for violating its rules in the Strait of Hormuz, threatening fines, detention, and cargo confiscation, escalating tensions six months into the war. The named vessels include tankers owned by UAE's ADNOC L&S, Saudi Arabia's Bahri, and others. Iran warned ships transferring loads with blacklisted vessels could face similar action, though it did not specify its transit rules. The escalation follows U.S. threats of severe sanctions and comes as U.S.-coordinated efforts help restore Gulf oil exports, which supplied about 20% of global daily crude before the conflict disrupted traffic.