The United States conducted fresh strikes on Iran, prompting air defences in Tehran to activate after President Donald Trump warned that the US is "not finished" with its war against Iran, which has now cost $37.5 billion. The latest attacks targeted "military logistics infrastructure," while Iranian state media reported strikes in various locations, including Bushehr, which hosts a nuclear power plant.
As the conflict nears the five-month mark, Trump has faced political pressure to end the war, which is unpopular even among some of his supporters. Pentagon Chief Pete Hegseth confirmed the escalating cost of the war, defending a request for additional funding. The US military stated that it launched an eleventh consecutive night of strikes against Iran to degrade its ability to threaten commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.
Trump hinted at targeting an underground complex near Natanz, suspected to be an undeclared enrichment facility. Iran threatened reprisals, warning of strikes on "all the interests of America, the allies and supporters" if such an attack were carried out. Meanwhile, Iran's Houthi allies threatened to blockade Saudi ports, raising concerns about global oil supplies.
US allies in the region, including Bahrain and Kuwait, reported intercepting Iranian attacks. Despite the escalating tensions, diplomatic exchanges between Iran and the US through mediators continue. Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif called for restraint, urging all sides to avoid further destabilising the region.
The ongoing conflict has significant implications for global oil markets and regional stability. The rising cost of the war and the potential for further escalation pose serious challenges for the international community, with ripple effects felt worldwide, including in countries like Bangladesh that rely on stable oil supplies and global trade routes.
