Trump Weighs Massive Attack on Iran as Pakistan Pushes U.S.-Iran Talks After 13 Nights of Strikes
Updated
Updated · CNBC · Jul 24
Trump Weighs Massive Attack on Iran as Pakistan Pushes U.S.-Iran Talks After 13 Nights of Strikes
3 articles · Updated · CNBC · Jul 24
Summary
Trump said he is close to deciding on a strike on Iran “bigger than ever before” after U.S. forces completed a 13th straight night of attacks and the conflict spread into the Red Sea.
The new flashpoint came after Yemen’s Houthis claimed attacks on two Saudi oil tankers and threatened Red Sea oil traffic; Trump said any repeat would bring “major military punishment” on Iran and the Houthis.
Pakistan is trying to revive stalled U.S.-Iran talks, with Iranian Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni making his second Islamabad visit in 10 days as part of exploratory discussions Reuters said were encouraged by China.
That diplomatic opening briefly lifted risk appetite—stocks rose and oil fell—though Iran stayed publicly defiant, claiming a strike on a U.S. base in Jordan and warning Britain and other European states against aiding U.S. operations.
Is the threat of unprecedented military punishment a genuine strategy, or a high-stakes bluff to force Tehran to negotiate?
As Iranian retaliation spreads, could the controversial Strait of Hormuz transit fees permanently cripple global energy markets?
Will Pakistan's secret backchannel talks prevent a devastating regional war before the US launches its threatened massive attack?
The 2026 Middle East War: U.S.-Iran Escalation, Humanitarian Disaster, and the Collapse of Global Energy Security
Overview
The 2026 U.S.-Iran war began with a joint U.S.-Israeli strike that killed Iran’s Supreme Leader, triggering Iranian missile attacks and a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. This blockade disrupted global oil and fertilizer trade, causing energy prices and inflation to soar worldwide. As food and fertilizer costs spiked, millions faced hunger. Diplomatic efforts led by Pakistan and Qatar briefly paused the conflict, but collapsed after renewed attacks on shipping. The U.S. responded with massive airstrikes and a reimposed blockade, while Iran retaliated regionally. The intense fighting quickly depleted U.S. munitions, exposing vulnerabilities in military readiness and fueling a global crisis.