A high-stakes maritime standoff is unfolding as an Iranian supertanker carrying an estimated $220 million worth of crude oil reportedly evades a US naval blockade, raising fresh questions over enforcement, sanctions and control of critical global trade routes. Tracked across multiple strategic choke points, the VLCC, linked to the National Iranian Tanker Company, is believed to be transporting over 1.9 million barrels of oil toward the Asia-Pacific. Data from independent monitoring sources suggests the tanker had been present in Iranian waters around the time the US Navy announced its blockade operations. The maritime tension comes alongside a major diplomatic escalation. Tehran has issued a one-month ultimatum demanding negotiations to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a critical artery for global oil supply. In parallel, Iran has presented a revised 14-point proposal to Washington, outlining terms for a potential agreement that could reshape the current standoff. WATCH

A major legal battle has erupted between the Pentagon and artificial intelligence company Anthropic. The company, which created the AI chatbot Claude, has filed lawsuits against the Trump administration after the US Defense Department labeled it a “supply chain risk.”