United States President Donald Trump held off military strikes targeting Iranian energy sites on Friday. The delay will last until 6 April as the administration pursues ongoing negotiations with Tehran.
This decision follows nearly four weeks of a joint US-Israeli military assault on the country. The Iranian Red Crescent reports that at least 1,900 people have died since the conflict began. Approximately 20,000 others have sustained injuries across the region during the month-long campaign.
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Global impact and regional tensions
The conflict continues to disrupt global energy markets and international shipping lanes. Iran has effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz to vessels allied with the US and Israel, affecting roughly 20 per cent of the world’s oil and natural gas supplies.
Asian economies, including the Philippines and South Korea, face critical energy shortages due to the closure. Protests have broken out in Manila as citizens react to rising fuel prices and low supplies. Yemen’s Houthi rebels have also warned they may join the Iran war if escalation continues. They have previously targeted commercial ships in the Red Sea and the Bab al-Mandab Strait.
Israel’s Defence Minister, Israel Katz, stated that IDF strikes will soon escalate and expand. He noted that operations will target military infrastructure and strategic capabilities of the Iranian regime.
Image via ABC News.
