The Middle East situation is escalating after Iran launched cluster warhead missiles at Tel Aviv in retaliation for Israel’s assassination of Ali Larijani, Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council. Meanwhile, Mojtaba Khamenei, the new Supreme Leader, firmly rejected talks to ease tensions with the U.S., as global oil prices surged nearly 50% following the closure of major oil transport routes.
Iranian state television reported that the Iranian military fired missiles equipped with cluster warheads at Tel Aviv on Tuesday night to avenge the death of Ali Larijani, Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council. Iranian authorities also reported that Larijani’s son and Ali Reza Bayat, Deputy Secretary of the Council, were killed in Israeli attacks.
Israeli officials said these warheads disperse into medium-sized bomblets mid-air, making them hard to intercept. The latest attack in a densely populated area caused two more deaths, raising Israel’s total war death toll to 14. There were also reports of missiles falling near Iran’s Bushehr nuclear power plant, though no serious damage was reported.
Mojtaba Khamenei, Iran’s new Supreme Leader who succeeded Ayatollah Ali Khamenei after his death in an Israeli attack last February, has rejected ceasefire proposals or tension reduction talks with the U.S., stating, "It is not yet time for peace until the U.S. and Israel kneel, accept defeat, and compensate for damages."
U.S. President Donald Trump responded to NATO countries and allies like Japan, Australia, and South Korea who showed hesitation in sending troops to protect shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. Trump stated on social media that the U.S. had achieved great military success and no longer needed allied assistance, while European Union representatives noted that no country wants to risk its population’s lives and urged diplomatic solutions to prevent global food and energy crises.
Human rights group HRANA estimates over 3,000 deaths in Iran and more than 900 deaths in Lebanon from Israeli attacks. Meanwhile, global oil prices have surged about 45% since the war began on 28 February due to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s five main oil shipping routes.
The World Food Programme (WFP) warned that if the war prolongs to June, tens of millions could face severe hunger. Airlines worldwide are grappling with soaring fuel costs and Middle Eastern airspace closures, leading to flight cancellations and rerouting.
Most recently, Saudi Arabia is preparing to convene an emergency meeting of Arab and Islamic foreign ministers in Riyadh on Wednesday evening to discuss ways to maintain regional security and stability amid the deepening crisis.
.sourceReuters