Tensions in the Middle East are fast growing as Iran rejects a planned 45-day ceasefire and insists on a permanent end to the war.
US President Donald Trump has increased pressure on Iran, setting a hard deadline for reopening the Strait of Hormuz. He warned that failing to comply might result in widespread strikes against essential infrastructure, such as power plants and bridges. Trump further stated that he is “not at all” concerned about potential war crimes allegations related to such activities.
The United Nations is pushing back. Secretary-General António Guterres has warned that targeting civilian infrastructure violates international law and urged caution as the situation worsens.
Meanwhile, the conflict continues to unfold on multiple fronts. Israel launched a new wave of strikes on Iran early Tuesday, prompting retaliatory missile fire from Tehran toward Israel and neighboring Gulf states.
The human toll is mounting. More than 1,900 people have been reported killed in Iran, though updates have stalled. In Lebanon, over 1,400 have died and more than one million people have been displaced. Casualties have also been reported across Israel, the West Bank, and among US forces.
