Middle East Tensions Escalate: Israel Strikes Tehran, Iran Retaliates Across Gulf

Israel carried out new attacks on Tehran Monday, as Iran threatened to strike critical infrastructure throughout the Middle East, intensifying a conflict that has triggered a severe global energy crisis.

Explosions shook Tehran, according to Iranian media, while Saudi Arabia and the UAE reported intercepting missiles and drones.

Fatih Birol, head of the International Energy Agency, said the conflict has “severely or very severely” damaged at least 40 energy facilities in the oil- and gas-exporting region. The war, driven by Israel-US actions against Iran, has now entered its fourth week.

Iran has retaliated with missiles and drones against Israel and Gulf targets, impacting energy facilities and US embassies. It has also restricted shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic channel for one-fifth of the world’s crude oil.

Oil prices remain above $100 a barrel due to supply concerns, prompting US President Donald Trump to warn that Iran’s power plants could be “obliterated” unless the strait is reopened within 48 hours, a deadline falling at 23:44 GMT Tuesday.

Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf responded, warning that regional infrastructure “will be considered legitimate targets and will be irreversibly destroyed” if Trump acted on his threat.

Birol emphasized the global stakes, noting that 11 million barrels of oil are currently lost daily—surpassing losses during the 1970s oil crises. “No country will be immune to the effects of this crisis if it continues to go in this direction. So there is a need for global efforts,” he said.

Asian stocks fell and oil prices surged Monday. Iran has permitted limited passage for vessels from friendly countries, while threatening to block those from nations involved in “aggression,” and is considering tolls on the Strait of Hormuz.

Netanyahu has committed to a long-term campaign against Iran, which supports Hamas following the October 7, 2023 attacks on Israel. Israel is also targeting Hezbollah in Lebanon. Brigadier General Effie Defrin, an Israeli military spokesman, said, “Citizens of Israel, we face more weeks of fighting against Iran and Hezbollah.”

Israeli troops destroyed bridges used by Hezbollah near the Litani river. Lebanon has suffered over 1,000 deaths and more than a million displaced. President Joseph Aoun condemned the attacks as “a dangerous escalation,” while Prime Minister Nawaf Salam attributed the war to Hezbollah, citing retaliation for the killing of Iran’s supreme leader Ali Khamenei.

In Israel, Iranian missiles struck Dimona and other southern towns, near Israel’s nuclear facility, injuring dozens. Resident Galit Amir said, “We thought we were safe. We didn’t expect this.” Netanyahu vowed to pursue Iran’s Revolutionary Guards commanders “personally.”

Iran said the Dimona strike was in response to an earlier attack on Natanz, while Israel claimed no knowledge of the strike. The US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency reports 3,230 deaths in Iran, including 1,406 civilians.

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