The United States and Iran exchanged attacks early Tuesday, with the U.S. striking a central Iranian city and Iran targeting a Kuwaiti oil tanker in the Persian Gulf, escalating tensions more than a month after initial strikes by the U.S. and Israel.
Intensified Conflict and Diplomatic Efforts
U.S. President Donald Trump shared video of the attack on Isfahan, which sent a massive fireball into the sky. Isfahan is home to one of three sites previously attacked by the U.S. military last year. NASA fire-tracking satellites indicated explosions occurred in a mountainous region on the city’s southern edge, though Iran has not confirmed the attack.
In response, Iran struck a fully loaded Kuwaiti oil tanker in the Persian Gulf. Officials from Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and Bahrain have privately conveyed they do not want the military operation to end until there are significant changes in the Iranian leadership or a dramatic shift in Iranian behaviour, according to U.S., Gulf and Israeli officials.
Economic Impacts and Global Concerns
Iran has applied a stranglehold on the Strait of Hormuz, a critical waterway for global oil transport, in response to U.S. and Israeli attacks since Feb. 28. This has led to rising global oil prices, with U.S. gas prices jumping past an average of $4 a gallon for the first time since 2022. The equivalent of $1.47 per litre was exceeded at most Canadian pumps several days ago.
Trump expressed frustration with allies, particularly the U.K. and France, telling them to “go get your own oil” as the conflict continues to roil global markets. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth stated the strait is “not just [a U.S.] problem,” noting the U.S. uses it “dramatically less than most.”
Military Developments and Negotiations
Thousands of soldiers from the U.S. army’s 82nd Airborne Division have begun arriving in the Middle East, potentially expanding Trump’s options to include a ground assault in Iran, even as he pursues talks with Tehran. Trump has claimed to be negotiating with “more reasonable” officials in Iran, specifically mentioning the country’s parliamentary speaker, Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, though Qalibaf has denied these claims.
Israel’s Prime Minister Netanyahu stated that Israel is “beyond the halfway point in terms of mission success” and suggested there are unspecified “military solutions” to ending Iran’s control of the Hormuz passage. He also accused European leaders of “weakness” in not providing more support.
Escalation and Regional Attacks
The UN Security Council planned an emergency session Tuesday following the deaths of three peacekeepers in southern Lebanon in less than 24 hours during Israel’s invasion there. The UN peacekeeping mission did not specify who was responsible for the deaths. Israel reported four additional soldier deaths in the offensive in Lebanon.
An Iranian drone struck a Kuwaiti oil tanker in Dubai waters, sparking a blaze that was later extinguished. Four people in Dubai were wounded by debris from an intercepted drone. Air raid sirens sounded in Bahrain, and Saudi Arabia’s Defence Ministry intercepted three ballistic missiles launched toward Riyadh, with debris causing minor damage to six homes. Sirens were also heard in Jerusalem following a warning of an incoming missile barrage from Iran.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi insisted that Tehran is only targeting U.S. forces, while attacks on civilian targets continued.
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