Can the Strait of Hormuz Stay Open?

They said one person was killed and three were injured.

So this was not only damage to a ship. People were hurt too.

Yes, and that made the news more serious very quickly. The Strait of Hormuz is a key shipping lane, and a lot of oil passes through it.

Why does this narrow waterway matter so much to so many countries?

Because it is one of the main paths for oil and cargo from the Gulf. If there is trouble there, traders, shipping firms, and governments all pay attention at once.

And this did not happen in an empty place. The region was already tense.

Exactly. In recent days, the Houthis have expanded their control over the Bab el-Mandeb strait.

That is another very important route for ships, and it connects to wider pressure on sea traffic in the area.

So there is pressure at two different chokepoints now.

That is right. The move can make it easier to squeeze Saudi oil exports. It also adds to worry across the region.

What did the reports say about the attack itself?

Iranian state media said the vessel was hit early Sunday. The reports said one person died and four were hurt.

Either way, the main point is that there were injuries, not just damage to the ship.

And who did they blame for it?

Iran’s state-run IRNA agency quoted the Qeshm governor as blaming what he called a terrorist enemy.

But that is an accusation, not proof, and there was no immediate comment from the U.S. military in the material.

That is an important difference. What else was disrupted?

A plan by Tehran to brief neighboring countries on its efforts to manage shipping in the strait was postponed.

So the effects were not only on the water. The diplomatic side was delayed too.

Was there any public message from Iran itself after the strike?

Hours before the attack, President Masoud Pezeshkian posted that Iran would not surrender. He said the country could not be bullied.

That sounds defiant. And what about the United States?

Later, President Trump said Iran wanted to make a deal so badly that it was calling constantly.

When asked whether the U.S. struck the Iranian cargo vessel, he said, “I don’t want to say.”

So there is a lot of tension, but still a lot we do not know.

Yes. And the U.S. Embassy in Abu Dhabi also warned Americans about a continued need for caution.

That shows the risk is being watched closely beyond just the shipping companies.

Thanks, Owen.

Brics leaders are talking about a new global order, but they still disagree on what that should look like.

Now we go to Sophie, our LinguaWire correspondent for society.

Thanks, Daniel. This weekend, some of the world’s most powerful leaders gathered in Delhi around a large circular table.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said they should become “rule-shapers,” not “rule-takers.”

That sounds like a clear message from the host country. Who was in the room?

Among them were Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian. Also there were the UAE’s Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa.

These are not natural allies, and many of them have very different interests.

What kinds of tensions are we talking about?

India and China had a deadly clash along their disputed border in 2020.

Iran and the UAE have also been on opposite sides of the war in the Middle East.

So the gathering itself is already a diplomatic achievement.

Yes, because bringing them together in person is difficult. It shows India still has strong diplomatic reach.

But if they can meet, why is it still so hard to agree?

They can agree the world order needs to change. But they do not agree on what should replace it.

That question ran through the whole summit.

For some members, Brics seems like a tool against Western power.

That is right. China, Russia, and Iran want it to dilute the influence of the U.S. and western Europe.

But India is careful. Modi said the group is “not against anyone.”

Why does that distinction matter so much for Delhi?

Because India wants to keep good ties with countries that do not agree with each other.

It does not want Brics to become an openly anti-Western bloc.

And did they get anything practical done?

Yes, they managed to produce a joint declaration.

That was notable because twice earlier this year, Brics minister meetings had failed to produce one.

So they found consensus, but only up to a point.

Exactly. The agreement avoided the issues members disagree on most.

So the summit showed both cooperation and clear limits.

Sophie, thanks.

Let’s look at three useful words from the first part of today's episode.

strait

A strait is a narrow strip of sea between two larger areas of water. Example: The ferry crossed the strait in the morning.

route

A route is the way that a ship, car, or plane travels. Example: The airline changed its route because of bad weather.

pressure

Pressure is a strong force, or the feeling of stress in a difficult situation. Example: The team felt pressure before the big meeting.

We often use said to report news or speech from the past.

The pattern is subject + said + reported words.

Iranian state media said early Sunday that one commercial vessel was hit near the Strait of Hormuz.

Modi said they should become “rule-shapers,” not “rule-takers.”

Repeat after me: said early Sunday