Shipping giant MSC halts Gulf export shipments amid Middle East war

Ahead of the conference, the White House said Trump was reviewing "all credible options" on the politically sensitive issue of oil prices, which have surged because of the war.

• MSC halts certain Gulf export shipments due to Middle East war
• Trump to hold news conference on Iran strikes and oil prices
• Death toll from Israeli strikes on Lebanon rises to 486

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Global shipping company MSC announced Monday it was formally halting certain export shipments from the Gulf due to the Middle East war and that "all affected cargo will be discharged".

"In light of the ongoing and exceptional security situation in the Middle East... it is necessary to declare an 'End of Voyage' for certain export shipments" from Gulf ports, "whether located ashore or already onboard", the shipping giant said in a customer advisory.

US President Donald Trump announced his first news conference since launching strikes on Iran, saying on his Truth Social network it would take place around 5:30 pm Monday in the ballroom of his Doral golf club near Miami, where he spent the weekend. Ahead of the conference, the White House said Trump was reviewing “all credible options” on the politically sensitive issue of oil prices, which have surged because of the war.

Trump also said Australia had agreed to grant asylum to some members of the Iranian women’s football team after they refused to sing their national anthem at an Asian Cup match last week in a show of defiance against the Islamic republic. He said five players had already been “taken care of,” while some may return to Iran due to fears for their families.

Meanwhile, the death toll from Israeli strikes on Lebanon rose to 486 people killed and 1,313 wounded, according to Lebanon’s health ministry, though the figures could not be independently verified. Israel also said it killed Abu Hussein Ragheb, the head of Hezbollah’s Nasr unit operating in southern Lebanon. Hezbollah later pledged loyalty to Iran’s new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, who succeeded his father Ali Khamenei after he was killed during the opening day of US-Israeli attacks.

Amid escalating tensions, Iran warned security in the Strait of Hormuz cannot be restored while the war continues, raising concerns over global oil supplies and financial markets.