The United States military has now completed its eleventh consecutive night of strikes against Iranian targets, a sustained campaign that underscores the deepening regional conflict. Concurrently, Tehran has expanded its own offensive, directing attacks toward Gulf States. This escalation comes as Pakistan intensifies its diplomatic efforts to revive an interim agreement between the two nations, which recently collapsed.
Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has voiced “deep concern” regarding the unfolding situation, urging “all sides to exercise restraint and refrain from actions that could further destabilize the region.” This statement followed Sharif’s closed-door discussions with Iran’s Interior Minister, Eskander Momeni, on Tuesday. Momeni also met with Pakistan’s army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, a figure instrumental in brokering the previous month’s interim deal. Despite these Pakistani initiatives, prospects for de-escalation appear dim, particularly in Washington.
On Tuesday, President Donald Trump stated unequivocally that the United States currently has “no interest” in negotiations with Iran. Speaking from the Oval Office, Trump suggested a potential further escalation, hinting that US forces might soon target an area near Iran’s primary uranium enrichment sites. “They want to desperately meet. And until they’re ready to meet in a meaningful way, we have no interest in meeting,” he told reporters. This stance contrasts sharply with Pakistan’s diplomatic push, signaling a continued trajectory of military engagement rather than dialogue from the American side.
The US Central Command confirmed its most recent strikes targeted Iranian military operations centers, maritime capabilities, aircraft hangars, drone storage facilities, and military logistics infrastructure. The stated aim is to degrade Iran’s capacity to threaten commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. CENTCOM also noted that Iran has attacked over 30 commercial vessels in the critical waterway during the past three months. On Tuesday alone, a tanker came under attack, forcing its crew to abandon the vessel, an incident for which Iran’s Revolutionary Guards claimed responsibility. Meanwhile, Iranian state media reported multiple explosions across Iran, with air defense systems reportedly activated near Tehran. “News sources reported that air defense activity was heard in the west, east and northeast of Tehran,” state TV communicated via Telegram.
Iran, for its part, has continued its assaults on US allies, striking targets in Bahrain, Jordan, and Kuwait. Earlier, Tehran had also issued a warning, vowing to bomb its own territory rather than permit US forces to occupy it. The conflict between the US and Iran has increasingly centered on control of the Strait of Hormuz, a vital maritime choke point. This waterway previously facilitated the transit of approximately one-fifth of the world’s crude oil and natural gas. The ongoing hostilities have had immediate economic repercussions; on Wednesday, the price of Brent crude, the international benchmark, climbed to $92 per barrel.
The financial cost of the conflict for the United States is also mounting. US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth informed the Senate on Tuesday that the war with Iran has already cost the United States $37.5 billion, an increase from the $29 billion estimated in mid-May. Hegseth defended the Trump administration’s request for an additional $67 billion in supplemental funding to cover these war expenditures, characterizing the request as both “urgent” and “necessary.” His testimony was briefly interrupted by protesters, reflecting growing domestic unease. Several Republican lawmakers have also expressed concerns that the protracted conflict could become a significant political liability for President Trump and the Republican Party as midterm elections approach.
