Key facts
- Iran has halted ceasefire negotiations and message exchanges with the U.S.
- Iran reportedly plans to close the Strait of Hormuz.
- Oil prices surged over $5 a barrel amid the escalating tensions.
- Former President Donald Trump reportedly called Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu 'effing crazy' over Lebanon strikes.
- The U.S. House of Representatives voted to limit President Trump's war powers against Iran.
- U.S. forces intercepted Iranian ballistic missiles targeting U.S. troops in Kuwait.
- U.S. forces struck Iranian coastal radar sites after shooting down four Iranian drones.
- The UN nuclear watchdog warns Iran's risk of covertly developing nuclear weapons has increased.
- Iran's IRGC launched missile and drone attacks targeting U.S. military assets in the Persian Gulf.
- The USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier sustained severe damage from a fire, with Iran claiming responsibility.
Middle East tensions have dramatically escalated, leading Iran to halt ceasefire negotiations and message exchanges with the U.S. This decision follows military confrontations, including reports of Iranian ballistic missiles targeting U.S. troops in Kuwait and U.S. forces intercepting Iranian attacks. Iran has also threatened to close the Strait of Hormuz, accusing the U.S. of ceasefire violations. These developments have caused oil prices to surge, with U.S. crude futures rising 3.3% to $90.24 a barrel and Brent futures climbing 2.25% to $93.17, with some reports indicating a jump of over $5 a barrel. Hostilities in the Persian Gulf have included missile and drone attacks, with Iran's IRGC targeting U.S. military assets in retaliation for alleged U.S. strikes on an Iranian tanker and a telecom tower. U.S. Central Command confirmed intercepting Iranian attacks and conducting self-defense strikes on Qeshm Island, leading to a shaky ceasefire and disruptions to shipping lanes. The conflict has also impacted the Bab El Mandeb Strait.
Amidst this regional turmoil, former U.S. President Donald Trump reportedly berated Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a phone call concerning Israel's strikes in Lebanon. Trump allegedly told Netanyahu, "Everybody hates you now. Everybody hates Israel because of this," a sentiment he later confirmed, calling Netanyahu "effing crazy." Trump also expressed being "perturbed" by the fighting and urged Netanyahu to stop it. These calls reportedly occurred while the U.S. was negotiating with Iran. The U.S. House of Representatives passed a resolution to limit President Trump's war powers against Iran with a vote of 215 to 208, with four Republicans joining Democrats. This measure invokes the War Powers Resolution of 1973 but requires Senate approval and faces an expected presidential veto.
Adding to the complexity, the UN nuclear watchdog warns that Iran's risk of covertly developing nuclear weapons has increased since U.S.-Israeli strikes in June 2025, noting that inspectors can no longer regularly verify Iran's nuclear material, which includes 440.9 kg of high-enriched uranium. The status of U.S.-Iran talks remains disputed. Former President Trump has made various statements regarding Iran, claiming at one point that Iran had "already agreed" not to develop nuclear weapons, though he conceded they could change their mind. He also denied reports that U.S.-Iran talks had stopped, asserting they were continuous. Trump has also stated that the U.S. does not require an agreement with Iran to secure enriched uranium and expressed openness to meeting Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, if a deal could be made. He previously warned Iran against further targeting of U.S. bases, stating such actions could lead to "more pain." Meanwhile, U.S. farmers are facing challenges from drought, fuel costs exacerbated by the Strait of Hormuz closure, and high fertilizer prices. The U.S. military has also struck Iranian coastal radar sites after shooting down four Iranian drones near the Strait of Hormuz, with U.S. Central Command stating the drones posed an immediate threat to regional maritime traffic. Footage has also emerged showing severe damage to the USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier after a fire, with Iran claiming responsibility, though the Pentagon downplayed the incident's severity. Former UN chief weapons inspector Hans Blix has warned Trump's Middle East policy resembles that of George W. Bush and could lead to the "law of the jungle."