Oman's FM said the postponed Iran-Gulf Hormuz meeting was delayed 'in the interests of…

Both fronts saw notable rhetorical and material developments today. Omani Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi confirmed on X that Monday's planned Iran-Gulf meeting on Hormuz shipping was postponed 'in the interests of consensus,' with no new date set. Oil prices reflected the ongoing disruption: Brent crude settled Monday at $105.68/bbl, still in triple digits after crossing $100 the previous week, while US crude traded around $101, more than 20% higher than a month ago. Iran's military escalated in a new domain, with the IRGC saying its 'new advanced aerospace defence system' intercepted and destroyed a US MQ-1 drone — typically operated by the US Air Force and CIA — over the strait, distinct from the Saildrone and underwater-vehicle incidents reported previously. Trump, speaking from his golf course in Doonbeg, Ireland, gave a notable non-denial when asked whether the US struck the Iranian cargo vessel hit Sunday: 'I don't want to say.' He separately said the US could continue its campaign against Iran and 'take control of' its oil, comparing the scenario to the deal Washington struck with Venezuela earlier in the year, while also claiming Iran 'wants to make a deal so bad' that officials are 'calling constantly.' On Ukraine, Russian combat losses jumped by 1,700 over 24 hours — the largest single-day increase in over a week — reaching approximately 1,508,600 as of Sep 14; ISW assessed that Ukrainian forces have virtually eliminated Russia's net territorial gains since March, and Ukraine struck oil refineries in Krasnodar Krai and Tatarstan overnight.