Military developments
- U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the United States is preparing the “most intense day of strikes” inside Iran since the campaign began.
- U.S. forces struck 16 Iranian mine-laying boats near the Strait of Hormuz, according to American officials.
- About 140 U.S. troops have been injured, including eight seriously, the Pentagon said.
- Iran launched missiles toward Israel early Tuesday, the first attack in about nine hours, as the pace of Iranian fire appears to be declining.
Political statements
- Donald Trump said U.S. objectives in Iran are “pretty well complete” and suggested the war could end soon, a shift from earlier estimates that the operation could last up to five weeks.
- Hegseth later stressed the conflict would end “at a time of America’s choosing.”
Retaliation / threats
- Trump and Hegseth warned Tehran of “death, fire and fury” if Iran targets oil infrastructure in the Gulf or attempts to disrupt the Strait of Hormuz.
- A senior Iranian security official responded with a warning directed at Trump: “Be careful not to get eliminated yourself.”
Economic impact
- Saudi Aramco, the world’s largest oil producer, warned that a prolonged closure of the Strait of Hormuz could have “catastrophic consequences” for global energy markets.
- The strategic shipping lane carries roughly 20% of the world’s oil supply, making it one of the most critical chokepoints in global energy trade.
Market reaction
- Oil prices surged dramatically as the conflict escalated, briefly rising to nearly $120 per barrel, the biggest single-day spike in six years.
- Prices later retreated, falling back below $90, as markets reacted to shifting signals about the potential duration of the conflict.
Regional responses
- The British destroyer HMS Dragon has departed Portsmouth for the eastern Mediterranean.
- U.K. Defence Secretary John Healey said preparations that normally take six weeks were completed in just six days.
- The Ministry of Defence also announced that RFA Lyme Bay is preparing to deploy to the region.