Israel launched another round of airstrikes on Tehran on Monday, as Iran warned it could retaliate by targeting critical infrastructure across the Middle East, deepening a conflict that has already triggered one of the most severe global energy crises in decades.
Explosions were reported across Iran’s capital, according to local media, while authorities in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates confirmed they had intercepted incoming missiles and drones.
The head of the International Energy Agency, Fatih Birol, revealed that at least 40 major energy facilities across the oil- and gas-producing region have suffered extensive damage since the conflict began. The war, sparked by coordinated U.S. and Israeli actions against Iran, has now entered its fourth week.
Iran has responded to the attacks with sustained missile and drone operations targeting Israel and key sites across the Gulf, including energy infrastructure and U.S. diplomatic locations. It has also restricted movement through the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial maritime route responsible for transporting roughly 20 percent of the world’s crude oil.
With oil prices climbing above $100 per barrel, U.S. President Donald Trump warned that Iran’s power infrastructure could be “destroyed” if the strait is not reopened within 48 hours.
Iran’s leadership pushed back strongly. Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf warned that if the U.S. follows through on its threat, vital infrastructure across the region would become legitimate targets and face irreversible damage.
Highlighting the scale of the crisis, Birol noted that approximately 11 million barrels of oil per day have been disrupted—surpassing losses seen during the oil shocks of the 1970s. He warned that no nation would be spared from the economic consequences if the situation continues to worsen.
Hormuz Tensions and Market Impact
Financial markets reacted quickly, with Asian stocks declining and oil prices rising again. In recent days, Iran has allowed limited passage through the Strait of Hormuz for vessels from countries it considers neutral, while threatening to block those linked to nations involved in the conflict.
Iran’s parliament is also considering imposing transit fees on ships using the strait, with officials indicating that maritime activity may not return to normal anytime soon.
Expanding Conflict Across the Region
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has signaled that operations against Iran could be prolonged. Israel has also intensified its campaign against Hezbollah in Lebanon, warning that the conflict could stretch on for weeks.
Israeli forces have reportedly targeted key infrastructure in southern Lebanon, including bridges used for movement across the Litani River. Lebanese authorities have condemned the strikes as a violation of sovereignty and warned they could signal a broader ground offensive.
The conflict has already taken a heavy toll in Lebanon, with over 1,000 fatalities and more than one million people displaced, according to government figures.
Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam suggested the country had been drawn into the conflict following retaliatory actions linked to the killing of Iran’s former supreme leader, Ali Khamenei.
Impact Inside Israel and Iran
Despite Israel’s advanced air defense systems, Iranian missiles have managed to penetrate defenses, striking towns in the south, including Dimona, near a sensitive nuclear-related site. Dozens of people were injured in the attacks.
Residents described shock at the strikes, with many saying they had believed the area to be relatively secure.
In response, Netanyahu pledged to personally target senior commanders of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards as Israel continues its operations.
Iran said its attack on Dimona was retaliation for earlier strikes on its nuclear facility in Natanz, though Israel’s military has stated it has no confirmation of such an operation.
According to estimates from the Human Rights Activists News Agency, more than 3,200 people have been killed in Iran since the conflict began, including over 1,400 civilians. However, independent verification of these figures remains difficult due to limited access.