Escalating tensions include threats to global shipping, casualties near a key Israeli facility, and rising skepticism among Americans about the war’s direction.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
Iran warned it would shut down the Strait of Hormuz if the United States proceeds with potential strikes on its nuclear facilities, as new attacks and public opinion data highlight escalating tensions surrounding the conflict.
President Donald Trump said Saturday evening that Iran would be given 48 hours to fully reopen the strategic waterway before the United States and Israel begin targeting Iranian nuclear power plants. In response, Iranian officials said the strait would be “completely closed” if such strikes occur, according to reporting by the Associated Press.
The warning comes as fighting intensifies across the region. Iranian missile strikes struck areas near Israel’s primary nuclear research site, injuring more than 100 people in the southern part of the country. The attacks hit the cities of Dimona and Arad, located near the facility in the Negev desert.
Israeli military officials said they were unable to intercept the missiles that reached the populated areas, marking the first time locations near the nuclear research site have been directly impacted since the conflict began three weeks ago.
The strikes occurred hours after Iran’s Natanz nuclear enrichment facility was hit in an airstrike. Israel’s military has reportedly denied carrying out that operation.
Amid the military developments, a new CBS News poll indicates that a majority of Americans view the conflict as going poorly for the United States. According to the survey, 57% of respondents said the war is going somewhat badly or very badly, while 63% said the conflict is likely to weaken the U.S. economy in the near term.
The poll also found that 67% of respondents said Americans should not be willing to pay higher gas prices as a result of the conflict.
The survey was conducted between March 17 and March 20, 2026, with a nationally representative sample of 3,335 adults and a margin of error of 2.1 percentage points.
The Strait of Hormuz remains a critical global transit route for oil and gas shipments, and any disruption could have widespread implications for international energy markets. Iran’s threat to close the passage underscores the broader risks tied to the ongoing conflict as diplomatic and military pressures continue to mount.
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