Strikes across multiple countries intensify conflict as global markets react to growing risks around oil supply routes.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
Iran launched a series of missile attacks across the Middle East on Tuesday as explosions were reported in its capital, escalating a widening conflict following warnings from President Donald Trump targeting Tehran’s critical energy infrastructure.
Air raid sirens sounded in Jerusalem as Israeli forces reported intercepting incoming projectiles, while Iranian state-linked media described new blasts in Tehran that resulted in power disruptions in parts of the city.
The escalation follows statements from Trump indicating that U.S. forces could strike Iran’s oil export facilities, power plants, and desalination systems if Tehran does not agree to terms that include reopening the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz. The waterway handles a significant share of global oil shipments.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said military operations had achieved more than half of their objectives, including targeting Iran’s industrial capabilities. “It’s definitely beyond the halfway point. But I don’t want to put a schedule on it,” he said in an interview with Newsmax, declining to provide a timeline for the campaign.
Missile strikes extended beyond Israel, with Gulf states reporting impacts from Iranian projectiles. In Dubai, falling debris from intercepted missiles injured four people, while a fire broke out aboard a Kuwaiti oil tanker in port. Authorities in Saudi Arabia said they intercepted eight ballistic missiles, hours after Iran’s foreign minister urged Riyadh to remove U.S. forces from the kingdom.
The conflict has also intensified in Lebanon, where Israeli forces reported the deaths of four soldiers in southern combat zones involving Hezbollah, an إيران-backed faction. Israeli strikes have extended into central Beirut as part of efforts to weaken Hezbollah’s capabilities.
On the diplomatic front, Secretary of State Marco Rubio raised concerns about Iran’s proposal to impose tolls and restrict access to the Strait of Hormuz. “It sets an incredible precedent,” Rubio said in remarks to Al Jazeera. “So this means that nations can now take over international waterways and claim them as their own.”
Iranian lawmakers have voted to introduce fees for vessels transiting the strait and to bar ships from the United States and Israel entirely, a move that could significantly disrupt global energy markets. Analysts warn that further escalation, including a potential U.S. ground operation or broader regional retaliation, could drive oil prices sharply higher.
Trump said the United States was engaging with what he described as a “more reasonable regime” in Tehran, though Iranian officials denied any direct negotiations. Foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said the U.S. had only submitted a request for talks through intermediaries, including Pakistan.
Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar has positioned Islamabad as a potential mediator and is traveling to Beijing for discussions with Chinese officials. He previously hosted regional diplomats and said Pakistan was prepared to facilitate talks between Washington and Tehran in the coming days.
Meanwhile, Abdel Fattah al-Sisi publicly appealed to Trump to help end the conflict, stating, “Please, help us to stop the war; you are capable of it,” during a press conference.
Despite the ongoing hostilities, residents in Tehran described attempts to maintain a sense of normalcy amid tightened security. “When I make it to a cafe table, even for a few minutes, I can almost believe the world hasn’t ended,” said Fatemeh, a 27-year-old dental assistant. “And then I go back home, back to the reality of living through war, with all its darkness and weight.”
The conflict has also affected international peacekeeping efforts. The United Nations mission in Lebanon reported that two Indonesian peacekeepers were killed when an explosion destroyed their vehicle, with additional casualties reported. An investigation is underway to determine responsibility.
France has called for an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council, while finance officials from the Group of Seven convened in Paris to assess the economic fallout. Several countries are considering energy conservation measures as uncertainty around oil supply continues.
The situation has further expanded with missile and drone attacks launched by Yemen’s Houthi forces, raising additional concerns about maritime security in the Red Sea and compounding risks to global shipping routes.