DUBAI, June 18 (Reuters) – The UAE’s energy ministry said a collision between two oil tankers near the Strait of Hormuz was likely caused by a navigational misjudgement by one of the vessels.

In a statement on Wednesday, it cited preliminary information and did not draw any link with an upsurge in electronic interference during the conflict between Iran and Israel.

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The Adalynn and Front Eagle oil tankers collided and caught fire on Tuesday 24 nautical miles off the coast of the UAE in the Sea of Oman. No injuries to the crew or any spillage were reported.

After Iran and Israel began firing missiles at each other last week, interference has disrupted navigation systems near the Strait of Hormuz, a waterway between Iran and Oman that handles about a fifth of the world’s seaborne oil.

Tehran has not commented on Tuesday’s collision or reports of electronic interference.

Reporting by Ahmed Elimam and Maha El Dahan Editing by Tomasz Janowski and Barbara Lewis

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The IDF said it received “many messages” from Iranians concerned about the war, and posted a link for them to allegedly contact Israel’s spy service, the Mossad, to “find a new path to improve your situation.”

The IDF Spokesperson’s Unit posted the message on their Farsi X account. “We understand your difficult situation under the complex conditions the regime has created for you,” the message read. “Even those who present themselves as members of the regime’s security forces express to us fear, despair, and anger over what is happening in Iran, and ask us to make contact with Israeli entities – so that Iran does not face a fate similar to that of Lebanon and Gaza.”

The post emphasized that “It is important for us to clarify that we are not the appropriate address for such requests, but the least we can do is direct you to the Mossad’s website – perhaps there you will find a new path to improve your situation.” The message said any user attempting to do so should use a VPN.

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Iranian supreme leader Ali Khamenei has warned there will be “serious, irreparable consequences” if the US joins Israel in its bombing campaign.

The religious leader issued the warning in a public, televised address on Wednesday morning, adding that Iran will not be forced to surrender.

It comes as Trump warned that his patience was “wearing thin” with Iran’s continued attacks on Israel and called for the Iranian supreme leader’s “unconditional surrender”.

“We know exactly where the so-called ‘Supreme Leader’ is hiding. He is an easy target, but is safe there – We are not going to take him out (kill!), at least not for now,” he said.

Israel and Iran have exchanged missile attacks for nearly a week after tensions escalated last Friday. Hundreds of people have died in Iran and dozens in Israel as a result.

Meanwhile, an Israeli military spokesperson announced on X that no cities are safe. Avichay Adraee, the Arabic-language military spokesperson, said: “Our message this morning is powerful and will resonate far and wide: There are no cities of refuge in the Middle East where our enemies can find safe haven.”

Open this photo in gallery: Gold bars are displayed at a gold jewellery shop in the northern Indian city of Chandigarh on May 8, 2012.Ajay Verma/Reuters

Gold prices inched higher on Wednesday, buoyed by a retreat in the dollar, while investors held back from placing large bets ahead of the U.S. Federal Reserve’s policy decision later in the day.

Spot gold edged 0.1 per cent higher at US$3,393 an ounce, as of 0517 GMT. U.S. gold futures gained 0.1 per cent to US$3,411.60.

The dollar index slipped 0.2 per cent against its rivals, making gold more expensive for other currency holders.

“Gold fluctuated as investors tracked the escalation of risk in the Middle East. Tepid U.S. reports on retail sales, housing and industrial output bolstered the case for the Fed to cut rates later this year,” analysts at ANZ said in a note.

Iran and Israel launched new missile strikes at each other on Wednesday as the air war between the two longtime enemies entered a sixth day despite a call from U.S. President Donald Trump for Iran’s unconditional surrender.

The U.S. is deploying more fighter aircraft to the Middle East and extending the deployment of other warplanes, three U.S. officials told Reuters.

Data on Tuesday showed U.S. retail sales dropped more than expected in May, weighed down by a decline in motor vehicle purchases as a rush to beat potential tariff-related price hikes ebbed.

Meanwhile, the U.S. central bank is widely expected to leave interest rates unchanged at the end of its policy meeting later in the day.

Focus will also be on the Fed’s updated projections for the economy and the benchmark interest rate.

“We maintain our forecast that structurally strong central bank buying and the boost to ETF holdings from Fed cuts will raise the gold price to US$3,700/oz by end-2025 and US$4,000 by mid-2026,” Goldman Sachs said in a note.

SPDR Gold Trust, the world’s largest gold-backed exchange-traded fund, said its holdings rose 0.43 per cent to 945.94 tonnes on Tuesday.

Elsewhere, spot silver was flat at US$37.25 per ounce, platinum rose 0.4 per cent to US$1,267.88, while palladium gained 0.2 per cent to US$1,053.57.

In a tragic escalation of violence, Israeli gunfire and airstrikes have resulted in the deaths of at least 140 Palestinians in Gaza over the past 24 hours, according to local health officials. The conflict, which has left deep scars on the region, is now being overshadowed by the mounting tensions between Israel and Iran.

Medics report separate airstrikes have targeted homes across Gaza, resulting in numerous fatalities, including 21 deaths in central and northern regions. The plight of displaced Palestinians awaiting aid has been further exacerbated by Israeli fire, adding to the tally of casualties in a humanitarian crisis that sees little reprieve.

Despite continuing aid deliveries spearheaded by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, the effort remains fraught with challenges as both sides accuse each other of exploitation. Meanwhile, Israel maintains its military operations against Hamas, determined to dismantle the group’s infrastructure amid international scrutiny and calls for a peaceful resolution.

(With inputs from agencies.)