Strait of Hormuz Escalation: The US launched a new wave of strikes on Iran after three merchant ships were hit in the Strait of Hormuz, while Washington also reinstated sanctions by revoking a temporary licence for Iranian oil sales—moves that further strain the interim ceasefire and raise fresh risks for maritime traffic and energy supplies. Gulf Backlash: Iran’s IRGC said it struck “85 US military targets” in Bahrain and Kuwait with missiles and drones, as Bahrain, Kuwait, and other regional capitals condemned the attacks on tankers and warned of wider instability. Qatar’s Position: Qatar reiterated it holds Iran legally responsible for the attack on its LNG tanker Al Rekayyat and protested through diplomatic channels, as the dispute also fed into shipping disruptions and higher market volatility. Regional Diplomacy: Qatar joined NATO’s Istanbul Cooperation Initiative ministerial talks in Ankara, announcing progress on an Individually Tailored Partnership Programme and a NATO peace-support centre in Qatar. Policy & Planning: Qatar’s National Planning Council signed an MoU with the Doha Institute for Graduate Studies to deepen cooperation in data, statistics, future foresight, and public policy. Energy Outlook: The IEA forecast a 0.5% drop in global natural gas demand in 2026, citing ongoing Middle East disruptions to LNG flows.