Iran Ignites Tankers in Iraqi Waters, Defying Trump's Victory Claim
Iran set two tankers ablaze in Iraqi waters early Thursday, intensifying attacks on oil and transport facilities across the Middle East. The regime warned the world to prepare for oil at $200 a barrel, directly challenging President Donald Trump's assertion that the United States had already won the war. This bold move comes as the conflict, unleashed by joint US and Israeli air strikes nearly two weeks ago, has killed approximately 2,000 people and plunged global energy markets and transport networks into chaos.
Trump's Contradictory Statements on War Progress
At a campaign-style rally in Kentucky, Trump declared the US had won the war but emphasized the need to avoid premature withdrawal. "We don't want to leave early, do we?" he stated on Wednesday. "We got to finish the job." However, his comments contrast with the escalating violence and economic turmoil. Oil prices, which surged to nearly $120 a barrel earlier in the week before settling around $90, rose again on Wednesday and extended gains in Asian trading on Thursday due to renewed fears of supply disruption.
US Strategic Oil Release and Intelligence Assessments
In response to soaring oil prices driven by war-induced supply shocks, US Energy Secretary Chris Wright announced the release of 172 million barrels from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve. This action is part of a broader 400-million-barrel release agreed upon by the 32-country International Energy Agency. Meanwhile, US intelligence reports, cited by Reuters from three anonymous sources, indicate that Iran's leadership remains largely intact and is not at risk of imminent collapse. One source noted, "A multitude of intelligence reports provide consistent analysis that the regime is not in danger of collapse and retains control of the Iranian public."
Humanitarian Crisis and Military Escalation
The conflict has triggered a severe humanitarian disaster. According to Lebanese authorities, Israel's renewed bombing campaign across Lebanon and ground troop invasions have killed over 570 people, including at least 83 children, as reported by UNICEF. Approximately 750,000 people have been displaced, fleeing the violence. In a significant escalation, the Israeli military launched "large-scale wave of strikes" on Beirut's densely populated suburbs after Hezbollah fired dozens of rockets. The IDF claimed these strikes targeted "Hezbollah infrastructure" in southern Beirut's Dahieh suburb.
Iran's Diplomatic Response and Demands
Iran's UN Ambassador, Amir Saeid Iravani, condemned a UN Security Council resolution demanding Tehran halt its attacks on Gulf nations as an "injustice against my country." He argued that Iran is the "main victim of a clear act of aggression," citing the assassination of the supreme leader and officials as the conflict's root cause. Iravani reported over 1,348 civilian deaths, 17,000 injuries, and damage to more than 19,000 civilian sites, including homes, medical facilities, and schools, since the joint US-Israeli attack began on February 28.
Political Demands and Evasive Answers
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian demanded reparations and security guarantees in any agreement to end the war, while the Trump administration insisted that Trump alone will decide when to conclude hostilities, requiring Tehran's "unconditional surrender." In a troubling development, Trump evaded questions about a US bombing of an Iranian girls' school that killed at least 175 people, mostly children. When asked if he takes responsibility, he simply replied, "I don't know about it." A preliminary investigation by the New York Times blamed the US for the strike.
Regional Security Threats and Containment Efforts
The conflict's ripple effects extend across the region. Oman's civil defence is working to contain a fire in fuel tanks at Salalah port after drone strikes hit oil storage facilities. Meanwhile, Qatar, Kuwait, and the UAE reported successfully intercepting Iranian drones and missiles targeting their territories. As the Israeli military spokesperson stated, "We as an army are prepared to continue the campaign as long as necessary," echoing Defence Minister Israel Katz's sentiment that the war "will continue without any time limit."
