JERUSALEM — The United States launched a fresh barrage of strikes on Iran overnight as President Donald Trump threatened a major new escalation after Tehran opened a second front in its pressure campaign on the world economy.Subscribe to read this story ad-freeGet unlimited access to ad-free articles and exclusive content.Trump was weighing whether to launch a “massive attack” on the Islamic Republic that would be “bigger than ever before,” he told Axios on Thursday.The president’s warning, followed hours later by a 13th night of military strikes, came as oil briefly surged above $100 a barrel.
Iran has shown little sign of bowing to U.S.demands, launching new attacks on shipping as well as U.S.
bases and allies across the Middle East.These have combined to increase the cost of the renewed conflict — in human lives, including American soldiers, and global prices.The struggle for control of the crucial Strait of Hormuz has now been extended to another key trade route, after attacks by the Tehran-backed Houthi rebels in the Red Sea.
And there were signs that some U.S.partners in the region may be losing patience.
Senior Arab officials told NBC News they were growing frustrated with the threats, daily escalations and lack of diplomatic progress.“We have no clue where this is going,” said one senior Arab official, with direct knowledge of regional developments.
“It’s only getting crazier,” said another senior Arab official, directly involved with diplomatic efforts.Smoke rises from an explosion at an unknown location, during U.S.strikes on Iranian military targets, in this screengrab taken from a Central Command handout video released Thursday.U.S.
Central Command / via XTrump said Thursday there would be “major military punishment” for both Iran and the Houthis after the Yemen-based rebels struck two Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea, days after saying they were imposing a naval blockade on Saudi Arabia.“If they do this again, the U.S...