The war in the Middle East entered its 12th day with new attacks, threats over oil routes and signs that the conflict could prolong. The military escalation comes as governments and markets monitor the impact on the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic passage for global energy trade.
Amid the intensification of the conflict, information came to light this Wednesday (11) that the new supreme leader of Iran, Motjaba Khamenei, led to the death of his father, Ali Khamenei.
According to an Iranian official, the injuries were minor and he continues to carry out his duties, although he has not yet spoken publicly since taking office.
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Attacks intensify
The military offensive by the United States and Israel continues to increase pressure on Iran. The United States suspects and has installed mines in the Strait of Hormuz and has bombed more than 5,500 targets in the country.
Israel, in turn, maintained attacks on Iranian-linked positions in Lebanon. A bombing hit a residential building in the center of Beirut, causing a fire in an apartment block.
Iran has fired on Israel and targets across the Middle East, demonstrating that it can still fight back and disrupt energy supplies. The country attacked commercial ships, which continued to operate, threatened to attack banks in the Middle East and promised continued attacks.
Dispute over the Strait of Hormuz
The Strait of Hormuz region remains the main risk point for the global economy. Two sources heard by Reuters stated that I.
Three ships were hit while crossing the strait in the last few hours. Iranian military authorities said that vessels linked to the United States, Israel or allies could be targets of attacks when transiting the route.
Among the ships affected were British and Thai vessels. At the same time, ships linked to Iran and China continued to pass through the passage.
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The blockage of the strait is mainly a concern due to its impact on the energy market. The region is responsible for a significant portion of global oil transport, and Iranian officials have said that the price per barrel could reach US$200 if the flow is interrupted.
Disagreements over the end of the war
This Wednesday, Trump . According to him, “there is almost nothing left to attack”. In another statement, he stated that the war will end “when he decides”.
The US president has been repeating the narrative of Iran’s defeat, but it is not possible to prove that the Persian country’s military structure has actually been annihilated. Trump’s speeches about the end of the war contradict what members of the American government themselves say, such as Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, who has previously said that the conflict could go far.
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Confronted by a reporter who pointed out the contradictions and questioned whether the conflict was after all a “little excursion” or a “war”, Trump replied that it was “both”. “It’s a tour that will keep us out of a war; for them it’s a war, for us it turned out to be easier than we thought.”
This time, Trump’s speech contradicted even his ally, Israel. In private conversations, Israeli officials said they were unsure about the fall of Iran’s government. A government spokesman spoke to Reuters that the country is prepared to continue the war for as long as necessary.
On the other hand, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said that any agreement to end the war must include reparations to Iran and security guarantees against future aggression.
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“In conversations with the leaders of Russia and Pakistan, I reaffirmed Iran’s commitment to peace in the region,” he wrote in X. “The only way to end this war – instigated by the Zionist regime and the US – is to recognize Iran’s legitimate rights, pay reparations and offer firm international guarantees against future aggression,” he added.
International reflections
The war is already causing diplomatic repercussions. Spain, which worsens the crisis between the European country and the USA and Israel.
The diplomatic impasse has been going on since the beginning of the conflict, following President Pedro Sánchez’s criticism of the attacks against Iran. The measure generated a reaction from Trump, who said that Spain “has behaved very badly”.
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At the same time, G7 leaders held a telephone meeting to discuss the conflict. In a statement, the United States, Canada, Japan, Italy, the United Kingdom, Germany and France stated that they are evaluating the possibility of escorting ships in the region to guarantee free navigation in the Gulf.
The blockage of the Strait of Hormuz is a concern mainly due to oil transit. The conflict has already led to rising barrel prices and Iranian officials have said the world must prepare for that.
With the risk of disruption to the flow of oil, the International Energy Agency announced the largest coordinated release of strategic energy reserves ever to try to contain the impact of the conflict on global prices.
