Middle East Energy Security: Iran hit Kuwait’s power and desalination assets for a second straight day, forcing units offline and injuring workers, while Bahrain reported repelling Iranian aerial attacks as the U.S.-Iran exchange intensifies around the Strait of Hormuz. Oil-Route Diversification: Iraq and Syria signed an MoU to rebuild a long-dormant crude pipeline to the Mediterranean, aiming to cut reliance on Hormuz and restore an export route with capacity cited around 700,000 bpd. U.S. Policy & Power Costs: Oklahoma Sen. Alan Armstrong says federal permitting reform is his top priority to lower energy costs and speed projects, pointing to stalled gas infrastructure as a cautionary tale. Grid & LNG Fight in Hawaii: JERA Americas seeks approval to build an LNG-fueled plant and create a regulated wholesale power company, while Hawaiian Electric warns the plan could bypass bidding and add risk to the grid. Gas Prices Watch: In the week ending July 11, GasBuddy reported standout low spots including E15 at $3.75 in Muskegon County and premium at $3.54 in White County, with diesel lows like $4.33 in Hendricks County.