Iran launched approximately 10 ballistic missiles at central Israel on April 1, 2026, marking its largest single salvo in three weeks and striking as the country began observing the Passover holiday. The Israeli military reported the attack triggered sirens across central regions, with the IDF detecting a sixth missile launch later that evening. Israeli Army Radio indicated most of the missiles carried cluster munitions, which disperse smaller explosives that can remain unexploded and pose long-term risks to civilians. The assault followed a recent decline in Iranian attacks, which had dropped from around 90 missiles on the war's first day to 10–15 daily over the past two weeks.
Iran's foreign ministry spokesman, Esmaeil Baqaei, dismissed claims by former US President Donald Trump that Iran's leadership had sought a ceasefire, calling the statement "false and baseless." Trump, posting on Truth Social, insisted negotiations could only proceed once the Strait of Hormuz was reopened for energy shipments, threatening to "blast Iran into oblivion." Iranian President Pezeshkian, meanwhile, stated Iran had the "necessary will" for a truce but demanded guarantees hostilities would not resume. Iran's Revolutionary Guards confirmed they keep the strategic strait closed to "enemies" and claimed responsibility for striking an Israeli-linked oil tanker near Qatar, causing damage but no injuries, according to a British maritime security agency.
Global energy markets reacted sharply to the conflicting signals. Earlier optimism from Trump's comments briefly lowered oil prices and lifted stock markets in Europe and Asia. However, the ongoing closure of Hormuz, through which 20% of the world's oil normally flows, has fueled an energy crisis. US gasoline prices surpassed $4 per gallon for the first time in four years, European inflation surged, and governments began rolling out economic support measures. Britain announced plans to convene around 35 nations this week to coordinate efforts to reopen the strait.
The situation remains volatile, with no confirmed diplomatic channels open between Iran and the US, and further military actions expected.
When Trump says a war can end in "two weeks, maybe three," while simultaneously vowing to blast Iran "back to the Stone Ages," it reveals not strategy but spectacle—his words signal unpredictability, not policy. Iran's continued missile launches and closure of Hormuz, despite economic strain, show Tehran treats deterrence as non-negotiable, even at the cost of global energy shocks. The fact that cluster munitions were used in a densely populated area like Bnei Brak suggests escalation, not containment. This isn't brinkmanship; it's a demonstration that neither side is operating with a shared timeline, and the world's economy is paying the price.
