Washington, Mar 25:
Hopes for a slowdown in the Iran war rose after Donald Trump said the US was holding “productive” talks with Tehran and delayed planned strikes on Iranian power plants by five days. He also extended a deadline for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. However, Iran denied any negotiations were taking place, claiming Washington had backed down after its warnings.
Despite diplomatic signals, fighting continued unabated. Iran launched repeated waves of missiles toward Israel, injuring civilians and causing damage in southern areas, while sirens also sounded in the north amid suspected fire from Lebanon.
The conflict has spread across the region, including attacks affecting Bahrain and Gulf infrastructure.
The humanitarian toll is severe: more than 1,500 people have been killed in Iran, over 1,000 in Lebanon, 15 in Israel, and 13 US personnel, with millions displaced in Iran and Lebanon.
Global economic concerns persist. Oil markets have been volatile, briefly stabilizing after Trump’s remarks but still reflecting uncertainty over the war’s duration. The attack has also disrupted critical infrastructure, including cloud services, with Amazon reporting damage to Middle East data centers due to drone strikes.
Beyond the region, the crisis is having worldwide effects. Ferdinand Marcos Jr. declared a national energy emergency in the Philippines, citing risks to fuel supply and broader economic stability as the conflict continues with no clear resolution.