Trump threatens Iran and Houthi rebels with 'major military punishment'
UN Secretary-General warns of unimaginable consequences while European Central Bank cautions of inflationary pressures amid widening regional war.
President Donald Trump has warned Iran and Yemen’s Houthi rebels of “major military punishment” following coordinated attacks on Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea, which have driven Brent crude prices above $100 a barrel for the first time since May. The escalation has reignited direct military exchanges between the United States and Iran, with US Central Command reporting consecutive nights of strikes and Tehran claiming retaliatory actions against American assets in Jordan and Kuwait.
The conflict resumed this month after a brief ceasefire, throwing the region back into chaos as both nations battle for control over the Strait of Hormuz, a vital global oil transit route. Iran’s Revolutionary Guards reported stopping three oil tankers from transiting the strait, while US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that the Houthis had been “suckered” into the conflict by Iran, urging de-escalation.
International alarm has grown as the situation deteriorates. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned the Security Council that the crisis is “teetering on the edge of the unimaginable,” noting that one escalation triggers the next. Meanwhile, European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde cautioned that the energy shock could intensify inflation, feeding speculation about a September eurozone interest rate hike.
Military activity has intensified across the region. US Central Command stated its aim is to further degrade Iran’s ability to threaten civilian mariners, reporting its 12th consecutive night of strikes. Iranian state media reported that US attacks killed two people in Shalamcheh and struck Bushehr, home to Iran’s only civilian nuclear plant, as well as Qeshm Island. Kuwait confirmed intercepting hostile missile and drone attacks, attributing them to “wrongful Iranian aggression.”
Amidst the geopolitical turmoil, the US House of Representatives passed a symbolic vote calling for the president to halt the war, supported by Democrats and some Republicans. Oman, acting as a mediator, expressed “great concern” and is working to resume talks between the Houthis and Saudi Arabia, as the conflict threatens to further destabilise global energy markets.
