The United States has launched a military strike on the Iranian city of Isfahan, sending a massive fireball into the sky and sparking a fierce response from Tehran, which has attacked a fully loaded Kuwaiti oil tanker in the Persian Gulf.
The strike on Isfahan is the latest in a series of intense attacks between the US and Iran, which has maintained its control over the Strait of Hormuz, a vital waterway for global energy shipments. As a result, oil prices have skyrocketed, with spot prices of Brent crude hovering around $107 US a barrel in early trading, up more than 45 per cent since the war started on February 28.
US President Donald Trump has been insisting that there is progress in diplomatic talks toward a ceasefire, but the attacks suggest a different story. Iran's Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, has claimed that Tehran's operations are aimed at enemy aggressors who have no respect for Arabs or Iranians, and that it is high time to eject US forces.
The situation has taken a dramatic turn with the attack on a Kuwaiti oil tanker in Dubai waters, sparking a blaze that was later put out. The incident has left four people in Dubai wounded and has raised concerns about the safety of energy shipments in the region.
The conflict has also had a significant impact on the global economy, with oil prices continuing to rise. The war has been ongoing for over a month now, with no end in sight.
