Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, asserted that Tehran has inflicted a “devastating blow” on its enemies during the ongoing conflict initiated by Israel and the United States, according to a post on X. The statement came as the war entered its 21st day, with escalating tensions across the Middle East and rising concerns about a prolonged military and energy crisis.
The conflict, which began with the reported killing of former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, has seen Israel expand strikes deep inside Iran, targeting Tehran and key energy infrastructure. Iran has retaliated with missile and drone attacks on oil and gas facilities across the Gulf, including in Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and the UAE. The potential shutdown of the Strait of Hormuz has driven up oil prices and widened regional tensions, extending into Lebanon.
U.S. President Donald Trump has reportedly criticized allies within NATO for their reluctance to support securing the Strait of Hormuz, accusing them of being “cowardly” for not backing military action to reopen the vital waterway. “Now that the battle is militarily won, with a very small risk to them – they complain about the high price of oil that they are forced to pay, but don’t want to help open the Strait of Hormuz, a simple military maneuver as well as the only reason for the high oil prices,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani held a meeting with ambassadors from the Middle East to discuss the crisis in the Gulf, the situation around the Strait of Hormuz, and the repercussions on energy transit. Italy continues to provide assistance to its citizens and address the severe situation in Lebanon, coordinating with its embassies in Doha and the United Arab Emirates. A flight carrying 30 tons of essential supplies arrived in Lebanon on Thursday.
The Lebanese President Joseph Aoun condemned recent attacks against Kuwait during a phone call with the Emir Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, calling them a “flagrant violation” of Kuwait’s sovereignty and international law. The Emir as well condemned Israeli attacks against Lebanon.
Operations by the United States and some unnamed allies are intensifying to neutralize Iranian ships, mines, and cruise missiles, aiming to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. The Wall Street Journal reported a possible deployment of U.S. Warships to physically escort commercial vessels if current efforts fail. A rapid response unit of 2,200 Marines is reportedly arriving in the Middle East, occupying islands off the southern coast of Iran.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot, during a visit to Israel, called on Tehran to make “significant concessions,” stating that any resolution to the conflict must include a lasting political solution. He urged Iran to abandon its nuclear program and cease attacks on countries not involved in the war, including Turkey and Cyprus.
Despite the ongoing crisis, the United Arab Emirates is working to maintain its international standing and has affirmed that a $1.4 trillion investment and cooperation plan with the United States will remain unchanged, with intentions to accelerate implementation and funding. However, some disruptions have been reported, including impacts on data centers linked to Amazon and temporary departures of employees from financial firms in the Dubai International Financial Centre.
NATO’s mission in Iraq has temporarily withdrawn from the country, according to Iraqi security officials, citing concerns about the regional situation. The officials emphasized that the withdrawal is temporary and not a result of disagreement with the Iraqi government.
Ukraine has deployed units to protect critical infrastructure and civilian sites in five Middle Eastern countries – the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, and Jordan – from drones, according to Rustem Umerov, Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine.
Authorities in the UAE have announced the dismantling of an operational group linked to Iran and Hezbollah, accusing them of undermining the economy, financing terrorism, money laundering, and threatening national security. Five individuals of various nationalities were reportedly arrested.
Switzerland has halted arms exports to the United States, citing its commitment to neutrality in the conflict with Iran. The government stated that exports of war material to countries involved in armed conflicts with Iran cannot be authorized for the duration of hostilities.
The Israeli military confirmed the death of Ali Mohammad Naini, a spokesperson for Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), in a joint U.S.-Israeli strike. The IDF described Naini as a key propagandist for the IRGC, responsible for spreading terrorist propaganda and inciting attacks against Israel.
Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa stated he is working to keep Syria out of the conflict, emphasizing fine relations with all countries in the region.
Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto reiterated Italy’s position of not participating in military operations, advocating for a peaceful resolution within a legal framework provided by the United Nations. Italy, along with Germany, France, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and Japan, has signed a statement expressing a commitment to ensuring safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz.
An Israeli reservist serving in the Iron Dome defense system has been arrested on suspicion of transferring information to Iranian agents in exchange for money. Authorities have not yet disclosed the extent of the information allegedly transmitted or the amount of money received.
Reports indicate that 16 Iranian ships have been bombed in Gulf port cities, according to local authorities. An attack on a Kuwaiti refinery also caused a fire, following a similar incident at the same facility the previous day.
The price of crude oil has fallen slightly after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that Iran is suffering a “decimation” and that the war will end sooner than many fear. However, the conflict remains unresolved, and the Strait of Hormuz remains a focal point of international concern.
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