Strait of Hormuz Escalation: Iran says it attacked 10 ships near the Strait of Hormuz after the US announced it destroyed five Iranian oil tankers, while Tehran also fired missiles at the Al-Azraq base in Jordan; the back-and-forth has pushed Brent crude above $100 and raised fears for global shipping. US Response & Disputes: CENTCOM says its warship evaded Iranian ballistic-missile attempts and denies Iranian claims that destroyers were hit, even as Washington expands strikes on tankers tied to IRGC financing. Maritime “Restricted Zone” Talk: Iran’s IRGC warns vessels entering a new expanded exclusion area could face sanctions, and says it will release maps extending toward Chabahar. Regional Pressure on Iran: Pakistan warns Iran to rein in Yemen’s Houthis, saying spillover into Saudi territory could activate the Mecca Joint Defence Pact; Qatar also condemns Iranian attacks on Jordan. Tech & Reverse-Engineering: Iran claims it captured a US Dive-LD underwater drone and may reverse-engineer it, while the US says a drone malfunctioned and downplays the loss. Nuclear Diplomacy: The IAEA board refers Iran to the UN Security Council over nuclear “non-compliance,” a move Tehran calls politically pressured. Culture & Lifestyle Note: A literary fantasy novel, Thirteen Moons: The Werewolf Almanac, is highlighted for its themes of identity, grief, and belonging.