Airstrikes suspected to have been carried out by the United States\n(US) reportedly struck the central Iranian city of Isfahan in the early\nhours of Tuesday (31\/03). Footage shared by US President Donald Trump\nshows a massive explosion lighting up the night sky over the city.<\/p>\n
Isfahan is one of Iran\u2019s key nuclear facilities and is believed to\nstore highly enriched uranium. According to reports from the AP news\nagency, some of Iran\u2019s uranium is likely stored or buried at the Isfahan\nnuclear facility.<\/p>\n
Trump shared the explosion video on social media, which depicts a\nlarge fireball appearing in the night sky.<\/p>\n
Previously, the Isfahan nuclear facility was also targeted in a US\nmilitary strike in June 2025.<\/p>\n
Trump emphasised that Washington is prepared to expand military\noperations if Iran does not reopen the Strait of Hormuz and if no\nagreement is reached in the near future.<\/p>\n
\u201cSignificant progress has been made, but if for any reason an\nagreement is not reached soon, and if the Strait of Hormuz is not\nimmediately reopened for shipping, we will end our \u2018presence\u2019 in Iran by\nblowing up and completely destroying their power plants, oil wells, and\nKharg Island.\u201d<\/p>\n
Kharg Island is Iran\u2019s main oil export hub and has become one of the\nstrategic targets in this conflict.<\/p>\n
Trump also mentioned the possibility of strikes on Iran\u2019s water\ndesalination facilities if the war continues.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Iran accuses Washington of using diplomatic channels to\nstall for time while reinforcing troop deployments in the region.<\/p>\n
Kuwaiti oil tanker attacked in Dubai waters<\/p>\n
Amid rising military tensions, Iran has also launched attacks on oil\ntankers in the Persian Gulf.<\/p>\n
A Kuwaiti-flagged tanker named Al-Salmi was attacked by an unmanned\naerial vehicle or drone in Dubai waters and caught fire. The vessel was\ncarrying approximately two million barrels of crude oil, valued at over\n$200 million or around Rp3.3 trillion at current prices.<\/p>\n
Kuwait Petroleum Corporation, the owner of the tanker, stated that\nthe attack occurred in the early hours of Tuesday (31\/03) and caused a\nfire as well as damage to the ship\u2019s hull. There were no reports of\ninjuries. Dubai authorities later said the fire had been\nextinguished.<\/p>\n
The attack on Al-Salmi is one of a series of assaults on commercial\nvessels in the Persian Gulf and Strait of Hormuz since the conflict\nbegan on 28 February, when the United States and Israel launched strikes\nagainst Iran.<\/p>\n
In addition to the tanker attacks, several Gulf countries have\nreported security incidents. Air raid sirens sounded in Bahrain, while\nSaudi Arabia said its air defence systems successfully intercepted three\nballistic missiles aimed at Riyadh.<\/p>\n
In Dubai itself, four people were reported injured after debris from\nan intercepted drone fell into a residential area.<\/p>\n
Nevertheless, Iran\u2019s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated that\nIran\u2019s attacks were actually targeting US forces. \u201cOur operations are\naimed at the enemy aggressor that does not respect either the Arab or\nIranian nations and is unable to provide security. It is time to expel\nUS forces.\u201d<\/p>\n
However, the attacks on tankers and energy infrastructure have raised\nconcerns that global energy trade routes are now at serious risk.<\/p>\n
Global energy crisis and military mobilisation<\/p>\n
This increasingly widespread conflict is also having a major impact\non world energy markets.<\/p>\n
Iran continues to maintain pressure on the Strait of Hormuz, a\nstrategic shipping route typically used by vessels carrying about\none-fifth of the world\u2019s oil supply.<\/p>\n
Disruptions to the route have caused oil prices to spike sharply\nsince the war began on 28 February. Brent crude prices stood at around\n$107 per barrel in early trading, up more than 45% since the war\nstarted.<\/p>\n
Attacks on tankers and threats to energy shipping routes have\nexacerbated market concerns. The surge in energy prices is also\nbeginning to be felt by consumers in the United States.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe national average petrol price in the United States has exceeded\n$4 per gallon for the first time in more than three years,\u201d according to\ndata from the GasBuddy price monitoring service.<\/p>\n
This rise in fuel prices is also creating political pressure for\nPresident Trump ahead of the congressional midterm elections in\nNovember.<\/p>\n
The White House said Trump wants to reach a diplomatic agreement with\nIran before a new deadline set for Tehran. \u201cThe President wants to reach\nan agreement with Iran\u2019s leaders before the second deadline on 6 April\nto reopen the Strait of Hormuz,\u201d said White House spokesperson Karoline\nLeavitt.<\/p>\n
However, Iran has rejected peace proposals conveyed through regional\nintermediaries. \u201cThe proposal is unrealistic, illogical, and excessive,\u201d\nsaid spokesperson for Iran\u2019s Foreign Ministry Esmaeil Baghaei.<\/p>\n
He emphasised that Iran is currently focused on defending itself from\nmilitary attacks. \u201cOur position is clear. We are under military\naggression. Therefore, all our efforts and strength are focused on\nself-defence.\u201d<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/us-strikes-nuclear-site-iran-retaliates-by-attacking-oil-tanker-1774954927", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }