Meanwhile, Iran has made new demands about the restart of negotiations and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, and the Pentagon is pressing the U.S. defense industry to accelerate production of weapons.

Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia and mounting tensions over shipping through the Strait of Hormuz are adding fresh geopolitical risk to Middle Eastern oil supplies.

A concise round-up of the region’s top news stories this morning

Iran-backed rebels launch attacks on Saudi Arabia, as US-Iran conflict simmers