Iran has launched fresh missile attacks targeting Israel and Gulf nations, signalling its continued military capability even as U.S. President Donald Trump claimed that Tehran’s threat has been largely neutralized.
Explosions were reported across parts of the region, including near Dubai, as air defence systems intercepted incoming missiles. Sirens also sounded in Bahrain, home to the U.S. Navy’s Fifth Fleet, highlighting the widening regional impact of the conflict.
The latest strikes came just as Trump addressed the American public, stating that U.S. military operations have brought Iran close to defeat and that “core strategic objectives” are nearing completion.
Despite these claims, Iranian officials pushed back, insisting the country retains significant military capabilities, including hidden stockpiles of weapons and production facilities.
The conflict continues to take a heavy toll across the region. More than 1,900 people have been killed in Iran, with additional casualties reported in Israel, Gulf states, and Lebanon, where fighting involving Iran-backed groups has intensified.
At the centre of the crisis is the Strait of Hormuz, a vital global oil route that previously carried around 20 per cent of the world’s traded oil. Iranian actions have reduced shipping traffic in the strait by approximately 94 per cent compared to last year, severely disrupting global energy supplies.
In response, nearly three dozen countries — excluding the United States — are holding discussions on how to restore safe passage through the waterway once hostilities ease. However, leaders including French President Emmanuel Macron have warned that a military solution to reopen the strait is unrealistic.
The ongoing disruption has already driven oil prices sharply higher, with Brent crude rising to around $108 per barrel — roughly 50 per cent above pre-war levels — raising concerns about global inflation and rising costs for consumers.
As the conflict escalates, the gap between political messaging and battlefield realities appears to be widening, with continued strikes underscoring that the war is far from over.
