The U.S. Central Command has confirmed the resumption of strikes against Iran

¬ The Iranian military stated that eight officers were killed in a U.S. attack early on July 8

¬ Japan considers stockpiling naphtha amid escalating tensions in the Middle East

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The U.S. Central Command has confirmed that strike operations against Iran have resumed, following orders from President Trump.

In a statement posted on the X social platform, the U.S. Central Command said: "Under the direction of the supreme commander, U.S. Central Command forces have commenced strikes against Iran, further undermining its ability to threaten maritime freedom through the Strait of Hormuz."

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The Iranian military released a statement saying that early on July 8, the United States launched an attack on southern Iran, resulting in the deaths of eight Iranian officers.

Russia's Iran SNN TV cited the Iranian military's statement, reporting: "Early on July 8, U.S. forces carried out a criminal attack on southern Iran. Eight brave personnel from Iran's air and naval forces lost their lives defending their homeland in Abadan and Bushehr under enemy fire."

Early on July 8, the U.S. launched a series of strong strikes against Iran. The U.S. Central Command stated this action was taken in response to Iran's previous actions targeting commercial vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz.

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According to Asahi Shimbun, amid growing concerns over supply chain stability triggered by the deteriorating situation in the Middle East, the Japanese government is considering stockpiling naphtha—a raw material for plastic production.

The newspaper quoted Economy Minister Ryohei Akazawa as saying: "Naphtha is highly volatile, making long-term storage over several years quite difficult. We will study potential stockpiling strategies, including storage methods and maintenance requirements."

Naphtha is derived from crude oil and serves as a raw material for plastic products. Typically, about 60% of Japan’s naphtha consumption is imported, with the remaining 40% domestically produced. Approximately 70% of imported naphtha comes from the Middle East, while the crude oil required for domestic naphtha production is almost entirely sourced from the Middle East.

With the Strait of Hormuz effectively closed, both government and businesses are urgently shifting toward alternative sources of Middle Eastern crude oil that bypass the strait, as well as U.S. products. However, according to the report, in some cases, diluents, paints, and other materials are failing to arrive in sufficient quantities at enterprises, leading to sharp price increases.

Differing from oil, naphtha is currently not included in the mandatory raw material stockpiling list. Asahi Shimbun notes that private naphtha stockpiles are expected to last only about 20 days.

Meanwhile, experts and industry insiders believe that direct stockpiling of naphtha may face challenges due to the need for new storage tanks and the specific storage characteristics of naphtha. One proposed solution under consideration is not to stockpile naphtha itself, but rather to stockpile the crude oil needed to produce it.

Original source: toutiao.com/article/1870206387366916/

Disclaimer: This article reflects the personal views of the author