U.S. Continues Intensified Strikes Against Iran Amid Diplomatic Fears

Continuation of Military Strikes

The United States has completed its 11th consecutive night of strikes against Iranian targets, targeting aircraft hangars and drone storage sites. These attacks have been ongoing since February 28 and have claimed the lives of four U.S. service members so far.

In a recent address, President Donald Trump intensified his rhetoric against Iran, threatening to target what he calls Pickaxe Mountain, an underground site near one of Iran’s primary nuclear enrichment facilities. The site is considered a major escalation in the conflict, as it lies beneath the ground and could present significant challenges for U.S. military operations.

Iranian Countermeasures

In response to U.S. attacks and ongoing diplomatic efforts to salvage an interim ceasefire deal, Yemen's Iranian-aligned Houthis announced a naval blockade of Saudi Arabian ports. This move has significant implications for global oil markets, as it could disrupt the flow of crude from the region.

The war on Iran has already cost $37.5 billion, according to U.S. defense secretary Pete Hegseth. Meanwhile, the Lebanese prime minister, Nawaf Salam, visited a pilot zone for disarmament efforts at Zawtar al-Gharbiya, emphasizing continued diplomatic initiatives aimed at securing a complete Israeli withdrawal from the south.

Salam stated, 'We will continue mobilising our political and diplomatic efforts to secure a complete Israeli withdrawal from the south,' highlighting Lebanon's commitment to maintaining peace in the region. The visit came as part of an ongoing effort to demonstrate that the Lebanese army can effectively remove and disarm Hezbollah under a Washington-sponsored deal.

Regional Ramifications

The renewed conflict has had far-reaching consequences, not only for Iran but also for its allies in the region. Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi, who survived an earlier attack by recounting his harrowing experience, described how he was pulled from the rubble of a leadership compound after the US-Israeli airstrike that killed the country’s supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, on the first day of the war.

Araghchi has since been forced to constantly move around Tehran for safety. This underscores the ongoing and unpredictable nature of the conflict and its impact on key political figures in Iran.

Live Coverage

Welcome to our live coverage of the latest developments in the US-Iran war, and its regional and global ramifications. The US military completed its 11th night of strikes on Iran, including on aircraft hangars and drone storage sites, as the renewed conflict continues to undermine diplomatic efforts to salvage an interim ceasefire deal.

In what could open up a potential new front in the war, Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthis, who control the coast at the mouth of the Red Sea, announced a naval blockade on Saudi Arabia. With the strait of Hormuz blocked, Saudi Arabia has been relying on a pipeline to the Red Sea to get millions of barrels of oil out to market.

The latest US barrage came as Donald Trump warned strikes would intensify. The U.S. leader also declared the US would “soon” target “very heavily” the area near Pickaxe Mountain – a fortified underground site near one of Iran’s primary nuclear enrichment facilities, which Iran's military leaders said would be considered a major escalation.

Before the latest strikes, Iranian interior minister Eskandar Momeni visited Pakistan, a key mediator in the conflict. But it was unclear what new arrangement might be reached to end the war, which is now centered on a battle for control over the strait of Hormuz.

Sources: The Guardian, BBC