Tensions in the Middle East escalated further on Monday as President Donald Trump issued a stark warning to Iran, saying the United States may “blow up and completely obliterate” the country’s electric plants and oil wells if a peace deal is not reached and the Strait of Hormuz is reopened. The threat comes amid growing instability across the region, with multiple military strikes and rising energy costs adding to global concern.
Iran quickly contradicted Trump’s claims that it had agreed to most of the U.S.’s 15-point peace proposal, calling the plan “unrealistic” and signaling continued defiance. The Strait of Hormuz, a key waterway through which a significant portion of the world’s oil passes, remains blocked, keeping energy markets on edge.
Following Trump’s statements, oil prices surged, with Brent crude climbing past $116 a barrel and the average U.S. gas price hitting $3.99 per gallon — the highest since 2022. Trump also sparked controversy by stating his intention to “take the oil in Iran,” further inflaming tensions.
Meanwhile, violence has continued on the ground. At least two people were killed in a U.S.-Israeli strike on an orphanage in Iran, according to state media reports. In Lebanon, a UN peacekeeper was killed as Israeli forces struck parts of the country, and debris from intercepted attacks hit an oil refinery complex in Israel.
With diplomacy at a standstill and military actions intensifying, the situation in the Middle East remains volatile, with potential global implications for energy prices and regional security.#newsafro_
