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A new maritime attack in the Strait of Hormuz has intensified fears that the disruption to global energy supplies could become more severe. The UK Maritime Trade Operations agency reported that a vessel was hit by a projectile, while Saudi Arabia has already temporarily shut its East-West oil pipeline, which normally carries around 4–5 million barrels per day.

Key points

• New vessel attack reported in Strait of Hormuz, with shipping disruption continuing.
• Saudi Arabia’s alternative East-West pipeline carrying 4–5m barrels/day has been temporarily shut.
• Houthi control of Perim Island raises additional risks for the Bab el-Mandeb and Red Sea trade route.

Why it matters: Thailand faces a double exposure through both higher energy prices and higher shipping costs. The shock could reinforce Bangkok’s push for renewable energy and domestic energy resilience, but in the short term it threatens corporate margins, household purchasing power, inflation and Thailand’s external balance.

The Saudi pipeline had become particularly important because it provides an alternative export route while traffic through Hormuz remains severely disrupted. The latest incident therefore removes part of the Gulf’s spare logistical capacity at precisely the moment when oil markets are already facing supply shortages.

The risks extend beyond crude oil. The Houthis have taken control of Perim Island, strategically located at the entrance to the Bab el-Mandeb, potentially increasing the threat to shipping between the Gulf and the Red Sea. With both Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb under pressure, Asian importers face higher insurance, freight and delivery costs in addition to the direct increase in energy prices.

Iran has also signalled that a planned meeting in Oman will not immediately reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Tehran is seeking conditions including recognition of its position over the waterway and the right to collect transit fees, making a rapid return to normal shipping conditions increasingly uncertain.

For Thailand, the implications are significant because the country is a major net energy importer. A prolonged period of oil above US$100 would increase transport and production costs, put pressure on inflation and the trade balance, and complicate monetary policy even if domestic demand remains weak.

President Donald Trump doubled down Sunday on his pledge to send $5,000 to every American adult if Republicans win the midterm elections, declaring that the country can “easily” afford the payments and insisting, “I always keep my pledge.”

Trump made the remarks at the Amgen Irish Open in Doonbeg, Ireland, where he said the U.S. is bringing in enough money to cover the payments.

“If the Republicans win, as they said, it’s $5,000 [for] all adults in the country,” Trump said. “And we can easily handle that because we’re taking in so much money. We’ve never done better.”

TRUMP DEFENDS $5,000 DIVIDEND PROPOSAL, PRAISES ‘BEAUTIFUL’ TARIFFS ON ‘INGRAHAM ANGLE’

President Donald Trump applauds during the Amgen Irish Open 2026, at Trump International Golf Links in Doonbeg, County Clare, Ireland, Sept.13, 2026. (Reuters/Cathal McNaughton / Reuters Photos)

“The Democrats can’t make that pledge because it’ll all go to hell right away,” he added.

Trump said the payments would go to “everybody” and argued that Republicans remaining in power would allow the economy to continue on its current course.

“The Democrats get in, you’ll go into a depression. If we get in, we will continue this incredible situation,” Trump said. “We have trillions of dollars coming into the country, and the 5,000 is going to everybody. I made that pledge. I always keep my pledge.”

President Donald Trump gestures during the Amgen Irish Open 2026, at Trump International Golf Links in Doonbeg, County Clare, Ireland, Sept. 13, 2026.  (Reuters/Cathal McNaughton / Reuters Photos)

Trump announced the proposal Wednesday during the Republican Party’s midterm convention in Dallas, making the payments contingent on the GOP retaining control of both chambers of Congress in November.

“Here is my promise: If the Republicans win the House of Representatives and the United States Senate, I will issue a dividend to every adult citizen in the United States of America for $5,000,” Trump said at the time.

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Paying $5,000 to roughly 240 million adult citizens would cost about $1.2 trillion.

Vice President JD Vance pointed to tariff revenue after Trump’s announcement as one source of money for the proposal. He also suggested wealthy Americans could be excluded, which would lower the total cost.

 FILE – Vice President JD Vance highlighted tariff revenue following the president’s proposal. (Getty Images / Getty Images)

“We’re taking an extraordinary amount of revenue because the president of the United States is standing up to both foreign companies but also foreign countries who have been taking advantage of America’s workers,” Vance told Fox News at the time.

TRUMP FACES RECKONING AS GOP FIGURES LABEL $5K PROMISE A ‘SOCIALIST VOTE-BUYING SCHEME’

Treasury data previously reviewed by Fox News Digital showed the government collected $34.2 billion in customs duties in a single month and about $208.5 billion since January. Those figures represent gross collections and do not account for refunds tied to tariffs later struck down by the Supreme Court.

The White House has not released specific eligibility rules or a detailed plan for funding the payments.

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The proposal would also require congressional approval before checks could be issued. House Speaker Mike Johnson said Sunday that Congress would have to authorize the spending.

Fox News Digital’s Amanda Macias contributed to this report.