The Middle East has plunged into a new and dangerous phase of conflict, with comprehensive attacks launched by Israel and the United States against Iran, according to reports emerging from the region.
According to The New York Times, Iran broadened its retaliatory attacks on American targets in the Gulf region on Monday and early Tuesday.
An adviser to the Revolutionary Guards commander further amplified this threat on Iranian state TV, stating that Iran would "set on fire" any ships attempting to transit the strait.
This commitment to a potentially protracted engagement, combined with Iran's defiant stance of preparing "for a long war," eliminates any immediate hope for de-escalation through quick negotiations.
Ali Larijani, Iran's top security official, vehemently denied any reports of new Iranian leaders seeking negotiations with Washington.
The Middle East is gripped by an escalating conflict as US-Israeli forces launch attacks on Iran, prompting retaliatory strikes and threatening to destabilize the entire region and global oil supply.