Four Fingers News — Monday, July 20, 2026
Day 143. Nine nights. And now both routes have a problem.
The southern corridor through Hormuz — the US-facilitated safe lane — took its first confirmed hits this weekend. Greek operator Dynacom says two of its tankers were struck by projectiles in the corridor. The Kavomaleas caught fire and was abandoned; the Acheloos, a supertanker carrying two million barrels, limped to anchorage. The ship-to-ship transfer system rigged to keep Gulf oil moving is drying up too: satellite imagery showed one tanker pair transferring oil on Jul 18, down from three pairs a week earlier. Supertanker crossings have dropped to two a day from eight in late June.
And now the backup. Yemen’s Houthis declared an immediate maritime embargo against Saudi Arabia on Sunday. Saudi Arabia has been routing oil through its East–West pipeline to Yanbu on the Red Sea, bypassing Hormuz entirely. If the Houthis can make that route dangerous too, the cushion under global supply disappears. Brent held near $88 — calm enough to suggest the market hasn’t priced in what happens when both doors close.
Secretary Rubio went on the Sunday shows to say Washington is “open to diplomacy.” Tehran’s answer: Khamenei called Trump’s signature “utterly worthless” and suspended the MOU. The word and the metal keep moving in opposite directions.
The back bar’s empty too.
CENTCOM closed a ninth consecutive night of strikes early Monday and IRNA said Iran answered with another missile wave; the American dead reached 17, and Tehran’s spokesman said talks with Washington could be pursued “based on national interests.”
Spain beat Argentina 1-0 at the Meadowlands for its first title since 2010, Torres finally beating Emiliano Martínez in the 106th minute.
Brent touched $91.42, its highest since Jun 11, then gave the gain back within hours on Tehran’s talks signal; WTI eased to $82.
A blaze burning since Thursday in Guadalajara province has forced some 700 residents out with no casualties reported, and Spain’s burned area for the year is nearing 70,000 hectares.
The advisory now centers on 10 a.m. Tuesday through 11 p.m. Wednesday, with highs of 88 to 95 from Everett to Tacoma; Thursday’s front carries the first shot at measurable rain in six weeks.
Logan Gilbert struck out 10 over six innings and Luke Raley and Cole Young homered in Sunday’s 6-3 finale over the Giants, closing the series two games to one.