Israel‑Iran escalation
Israel and Iran have traded strikes on critical sites — users flagged hits at Dimona (Israel) and Natanz (Iran) alongside missile barrages, and President Trump reportedly issued a 48‑hour ultimatum as markets surged into chaos with roughly $1 trillion wiped out. — Risks flagged include nuclear‑adjacent threats and active diplomatic manoeuvres by Pakistan, Turkey, China, France and Russia as states seek leverage and restraint. (x.com) (x.com)
Iran’s atomic agency and state media said the Natanz enrichment complex was struck but reported “no leakage of radioactive materials,” while Israeli officials have not publicly claimed responsibility and the IDF told The Jerusalem Post it was not aware of an Israeli strike there. (middleeasteye.net) Medical responders in southern Israel recorded more than 100 wounded after missile strikes in the Negev near the country’s nuclear research town, and Iranian state television framed the operation as retaliation for prior attacks on Iranian nuclear sites. (aljazeera.com) The U.S. president set a 48‑hour deadline demanding the Strait of Hormuz be reopened and warned he would “obliterate” Iranian power plants if Tehran did not comply, and Iranian officials counter‑threatened to target U.S. energy infrastructure in the region. (aljazeera.com) Global markets retraced sharply: one analysis put intraday equity losses at about $1 trillion wiped out in a single session, and energy benchmarks that week saw Brent spike above $100 per barrel with intraday highs past $119. (ibtimes.co.uk) Pakistan has publicly cast its posture as neutral while conducting shuttle diplomacy to push de‑escalation, and Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said Ankara was talking to both Washington and Tehran to end the fighting. (pakistantoday.com.pk) China sent a special Middle East envoy on a regional tour to mediate between Iran, the U.S. and Israel, France has been pressing European partners to help secure the Strait of Hormuz once stability returns, and Russia has condemned U.S.-Israeli strikes while saying it remains in “constant contact” with Tehran and pushing rival language at the UN Security Council. (moderndiplomacy.eu)
