Tehran: Tensions in the Middle East intensified as Iran launched missile and drone attacks across the Gulf, targeting energy infrastructure in Saudi Arabia and a vessel near the coast of the United Arab Emirates. The strikes come amid an expanding conflict involving Israel and the United States, raising fears of wider regional instability and disruption to global oil supplies.
According to US military officials, American forces also destroyed several Iranian vessels suspected of preparing to deploy sea mines. The Pentagon reported that 16 such vessels had been taken out as part of operations aimed at safeguarding shipping routes. However, President Donald Trump said there were no confirmed reports that Iran had actually planted mines in the strategic Strait of Hormuz.
The narrow maritime corridor is among the world’s most critical oil transit routes, carrying roughly 20 percent of global petroleum shipments. Washington warned Tehran against any attempt to block or disrupt the passage, with Trump cautioning that the United States could respond with unprecedented military action if mines were deployed in the channel.
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the American military was prepared to intensify strikes against Iranian targets if threats to maritime security continued. The Pentagon also revealed that several US troops had been injured in recent operations, underscoring the growing human cost of the conflict.
Iranian officials, meanwhile, signaled no willingness to enter negotiations and issued fresh warnings toward Washington. Tehran also launched additional strikes against Israeli positions and targets across the Gulf region, while regional governments reported intercepting multiple drones before they could reach their intended sites.
The conflict has already had significant civilian consequences within Iran. Residents in the capital, Tehran, described some of the heaviest bombardment since the fighting began. Witnesses reported damage to residential buildings as airstrikes continued. Many families have fled the capital and sought refuge in rural areas to escape the violence.
Beyond the battlefield, the geopolitical turmoil is also affecting people and institutions worldwide. In Australia, Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke announced that six members of Iran’s women’s national football team would be granted asylum and allowed to remain in the country. The players had previously expressed concerns about returning home amid the escalating conflict and political tensions. One team member who had earlier applied for asylum later decided to withdraw the request and return to Iran.
Global organizations are also warning about the broader economic consequences of the crisis. The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) cautioned that any closure of the Strait of Hormuz could have severe effects on global trade. In a recent report, the agency noted that the waterway handles nearly a quarter of global seaborne oil shipments, as well as large volumes of liquefied natural gas and fertilizers.
The agency warned that disruptions in the strait could lead to higher food prices, rising transportation costs and inflationary pressures worldwide. The report added that the ripple effects would not be limited to energy markets but could also affect shipping networks and global supply chains.
As the conflict entered its second week, diplomatic solutions appeared increasingly distant while military threats on both sides continued to escalate, deepening concerns about a broader regional crisis.
