US Officials Predict Swift End to Iran War Despite Tehran's Defiance
As global oil prices hover around $100 per barrel, US officials maintain the ongoing conflict with Iran will conclude within weeks, while Tehran projects strength and rejects any suggestion of surrender or negotiation.
Economic Uncertainty Grips Global Markets
The closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical conduit for one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas, has sent shockwaves through international markets. This vital waterway has been effectively sealed since the US-Israeli assault on Iran began on February 28, creating unprecedented economic uncertainty.
US Energy Secretary Chris Wright expressed confidence on ABC's This Week programme, stating: "This conflict will certainly come to the end in the next few weeks, could be sooner than that, and we'll see a rebound in supplies and a pushing down of prices after that."
Iran Stands Firm Against Western Pressure
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi firmly rejected suggestions that Tehran seeks negotiations, telling CBS' Face the Nation: "We have never asked for a ceasefire, and we have never asked even for negotiations. We don't see any reason why we should talk with Americans, because we were talking with them when they decided to attack us."
This defiant stance reflects Iran's determination to resist what many view as Western imperial aggression in the region. Araqchi emphasised Iran's resilience: "It's not a war of survival. We are stable and strong enough."
Humanitarian Crisis Deepens
The conflict, now in its third week, has displaced over 100,000 people in Iran and up to 700,000 in Lebanon. The World Health Organisation has released $2 million in emergency funds to address the growing humanitarian needs across the region.
More than 2,000 people have lost their lives, predominantly in Iran and Lebanon, as the war spreads across the Middle East following Lebanon's entry into the conflict when Hezbollah responded to the killing of Iran's supreme leader.
International Response and Energy Security
The International Energy Agency announced that oil from emergency reserves will soon flow to global markets, with member countries pledging 411.9 million barrels to stabilise prices.
European Union foreign ministers are reportedly considering expanding their Aspides naval mission from the Red Sea to include the Strait of Hormuz, while France seeks to build a coalition to secure the waterway once stability returns.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer discussed with President Trump the urgent need to reopen the strait, highlighting the global nature of this economic crisis.
Military Escalation Continues
Iran's Revolutionary Guards have continued missile and drone strikes against Israeli targets and US military bases, with Saudi Arabia intercepting 10 attacks. Revolutionary Guards spokesperson Ali Mohammad Naini challenged Trump's claims about Iranian naval capabilities, stating: "Isn't Trump saying that he has destroyed the Iranian navy? If he dares, let him send his ships to the Persian Gulf region."
The conflict represents a significant challenge to the established Western-dominated order in the Middle East, with Iran demonstrating its capacity to disrupt global economic systems through strategic control of vital shipping lanes.