Hormuz Shock for Kuwait’s Economy: Iran announced a complete closure of the Strait of Hormuz to all shipping on June 11, citing retaliation for U.S. airstrikes, a move that could disrupt the roughly 20% of global oil that passes through the chokepoint and spike shipping insurance costs. KPC Shifts Oil Sales to Asia: Kuwait Petroleum Corp offered crude directly to Asian refiners for the first time since the 1990-91 Gulf War, as the crisis reshapes export routes and sales channels. Kuwait-Bahrain Investment Push: Kuwait’s economic affairs minister met Bahrain’s ambassador to explore stronger investment ties and expand cooperation across sectors. Iran-US Deal Talk, But No Certainty: Trump said a memorandum to end the war is near and strikes were canceled, while Iran and Israeli officials urged caution, with negotiations still awaiting final approval and signing. Regional Security Tensions: Iran also threatened Elon Musk-linked businesses in the Middle East as military targets, while Pakistan urged restraint after strikes hit Kuwait and Bahrain. Fraud Crackdown in Kuwait: Authorities arrested a five-member Bangladeshi gang for forging and selling government stamps. AI Infrastructure Funding With Kuwait Ties: KKR launched Helix Digital Infrastructure with Kuwait Investment Authority, Nvidia and Vistra, targeting $10bn+ for hyperscaler data center, power and connectivity buildout. Markets Watch: Oil prices and shipping flows remain volatile as the region weighs de-escalation versus renewed escalation.