Israel launched strikes on military targets across Tehran on Monday, a day after US President Donald Trump suggested that a deal with Iran could be reached “soon,” while not ruling out potential ground operations. The attacks come amid escalating hostilities in the region, with Iran retaliating against Israel, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia following weekend strikes on its electrical facilities that cut power to parts of the capital and surrounding areas.
The conflict has disrupted global markets, with fuel shortages reported across Asia, oil prices soaring—Brent crude nearing $117 per barrel—and stock markets experiencing volatility. Israel has intensified its offensive against Iran-backed Hezbollah in southern Lebanon, and Indonesia confirmed that one of its UN peacekeepers was killed after a projectile hit a UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) position, with investigations ongoing into the origin of the strike.
President Trump, speaking aboard Air Force One, claimed that “regime change” had been achieved in Iran following the deaths of several Iranian leaders during the month-long US-Israeli operations. “We’re dealing with different people than anybody’s dealt with before… It’s a whole different group of people,” he said. Trump also indicated that an Iran deal could materialize soon and expressed interest in controlling Iranian oil exports, comparing the potential move to US actions in Venezuela.
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On the diplomatic front, Pakistan hosted foreign ministers from Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Egypt in Islamabad to mediate between Washington and Tehran. Pakistani officials said Iran and the United States expressed confidence in Pakistan’s role in facilitating talks. However, Iran’s parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf accused the US of using diplomacy as a cover for military action, warning that Iranian forces were prepared to resist any ground invasion.
Military tensions remain high. Israel reported intercepting missiles launched from Iran, while Iran targeted power and water infrastructure in Kuwait, resulting in one Indian worker’s death and damage to a facility. Saudi Arabia reported intercepting five ballistic missiles. Tehran also claimed to have closed the Strait of Hormuz, a vital shipping lane accounting for a significant share of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas shipments.
Civilians in Iran are bearing the brunt of the conflict. Many residents in Tehran described sleepless nights as nightly strikes shook the city. The war has escalated into a broader regional crisis, with power outages, destruction of infrastructure, and ongoing threats to global energy security, highlighting the growing urgency for diplomatic resolution.
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