Hurricane Isaias increased in strength today, Thursday, as it was rapidly heading towards the US coast on the Gulf of Mexico, which led to the issuance of mandatory evacuation orders in parts of the state of Florida and the declaration of a state of emergency in the state of Alabama, at a time when meteorologists warned of dangerous rises in sea levels, hurricanes and floods that threaten lives.
The hurricane has already disrupted oil and gas production in the Gulf of Mexico, and forced energy companies to evacuate offshore platforms and halt their operations, according to Reuters.
The National Hurricane Center in the United States said that the first hurricane in the Atlantic Ocean of the 2026 season was accompanied by sustained winds that reached a maximum speed of 140 kilometers per hour early this morning.
Expectations indicate that Hurricane Isaias will increase in strength to approach the level of a Category 3 hurricane, accompanied by sustained winds reaching speeds of up to 175 kilometers per hour, tomorrow, Friday, before it reaches the northern part of the Gulf Coast late tomorrow evening or early Saturday morning.
Michael Brennan, director of the US National Hurricane Center, said in a press conference today: “We expect (Isaias) to be a dangerous hurricane when it reaches land. Today is the right day to prepare and be prepared.”
In Florida, officials ordered a mandatory evacuation starting at noon local time today for coastal areas in Okaloosa County.
Alabama Governor Kay Ivey also declared a state of emergency in 40 counties, while officials on Dauphin Island issued an evacuation notice for the western part of the island as of this evening.
The US Marine Minerals Administration stated that oil and gas production companies in the US Gulf of Mexico have, to date, halted about 62.89 percent of current oil production and 57.35 percent of current natural gas production.
The administration explained that workers were evacuated from 121 production platforms, representing 32.61 percent of the total 371 manned platforms in the Gulf. She added that workers were also withdrawn from five rigs not equipped with dynamic positioning systems, equivalent to 45.45 percent of the total 11 rigs of this type currently operating in the region.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Thursday categorically refused to comment on a new report stating that the US Ambassador to Greece, Kimberly Guilfoyle, engaged in inappropriate, and possibly illegal, behavior before assuming her position.
Rubio told reporters that he would not discuss the allegations contained in a Wall Street Journal report, which stated that Guilfoyle asked a donor and supporter of US President Donald Trump to pay a $100,000 credit card bill, immediately before her confirmation hearing, and in return promised him to facilitate his access to administration officials, according to what was reported by the Associated Press.
Rubio's statements came before his departure from Greece, where he gave a speech in which he called on European countries to return to their civilizational roots, as he described it.
Rubio explained that he was aware of the Wall Street Journal report, which was published on Wednesday evening, but he does not know if it is true, and he will not address it.
“You act as if what a source tells you is the absolute truth, and then you publish it,” he added, standing on the stairs of his plane, while Guilfoyle, who had come to bid him farewell upon his departure from Greece, watched the situation. But it's not like that. Not so for me. This is not the way we work.”
During a joint press conference with the Greek Foreign Minister on Wednesday, Rubio stressed that he would not address these allegations during his visit to a foreign country, but he added: “Suffice it to say that our embassy here is doing a wonderful job, and our ambassador is doing a strong job here.”
On Thursday, the United States imposed sanctions targeting Iran's "remaining shadow fleet" consisting of tankers used to transport petroleum products to foreign markets. This is the latest step in the context of intensifying pressure within the ongoing war against Tehran.
The US Treasury Department said in a statement, “Today’s action effectively neutralizes the vast majority of the remaining Iranian shadow fleet network.”
Treasury Secretary Scott Besent added that the goal is to deprive Tehran of the funds necessary to “wage war in the region,” according to what was reported by Agence France-Presse.
Thursday's move targets 17 ships that are said to have transported millions of barrels of Iranian crude oil, along with petroleum and petrochemical products, to markets in South and East Asia.
The Treasury Department has classified the companies that own these ships, accusing them of operating in the oil or petrochemical sectors of the Iranian economy.
Besant had previously pledged to launch an “Economic D-Day” against Tehran.
The war began with the American-Israeli strikes that targeted Iran since late February, which resulted in the killing of its guide, Ali Khamenei.
The announcement of the sanctions came shortly after US President Donald Trump ruled out, on Thursday, launching further military attacks on Iran before the US midterm elections scheduled for November 3, indicating that Washington is holding “fruitful talks” with Tehran.
