| "Escalation Looms: Trump’s Ultimatum and the Global Stakes of the Middle East Conflict" |
** "We are going to hit them extremely hard over the next two to three
weeks. We are going to bring them back to the Stone Ages, where they
belong." — Donald Trump
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"Escalation Looms: Trump’s Ultimatum and the Global Stakes of the Middle East Conflict"
04/04/2026
(See translation in Arabic section)
Sydney-Middle East Times Int'l: In Donald Trump's first national address of the war, the U.S. president didn't rule out escalation in the next phase of this conflict. Donald Trump told Americans he would finish the job very fast. and would continue hitting Iran hard for the next two to three weeks. The president also repeated the threat.
They would strike Iran's energy infrastructure. If a deal isn't reached. Thanks to the progress we've made, I can say tonight that we are on track to complete all of America's military objectives shortly, very shortly.
We are going to hit them extremely hard over the next two to three weeks. We are going to bring them back to the Stone Ages, where they belong. The head of the Iranian army has told his soldiers to propend to counter any U.S. attack, including by ground.
As a sends Donald Trump's speech, has raised the odds that he may use the U.S. Marines and paratroopers recently deployed to the Middle East. And Iran's parliamentary speaker hosted this warning on social media. You come for our home, you're going to meet the whole family. Looked, loaded, and standing tall. Iran has said Tahran's Pasteur Medical Institute, a century old research facility, has been significantly damaged in attacks. Iran's foreign ministry spokesperson shared these photos of the aftermath and accused the U.S. and Israel of carrying out the strike.
Dramatic pictures have also emerged from Isfahan in the centre of the country, where heavy bombardment is continuing. Reports suggest Iran's stockpile of 60% enriched uranium, a short technical step from weapons grade, is stored there. An airstrike also struck the tallest bridge in the Middle East, which links Tehran and Karaj, two of Iran's biggest cities.
Donald Trump's address did nothing to calm the markets. Oil prices spiking by 7%, and stocks tumbling after Hope's faded for any meaningful de escalation. The critical choke point for the world's oil, the strait of hormoz, has become Iran's most powerful weapon in this war, inflicting
A drone strike caused a massive fire at the storage facilities of an engine oil firm in Iraq's autonomous Kurdistan..
pain on the world economy, and Gulf states whose economies are hugely reliant on oil and gas exports, are now considering building new pipelines to reduce their vulnerability to disruption in the strait of hormoz.
In southern Lebanon, seven people have been killed in Israeli strikes in the Nabatia province, in Tyre, an Israeli attack, killed four people, and wounded three more. Israel also launched another wave of strikes overnight in Beirut's southern suburbs. The Lebanese government said at least 50 people were killed across the country just yesterday.
The US embassy in Iraq has also advised U.S. citizens to leave immediately if they're in the country. They say Iraqi terrorist militias, aligned with Iran, may be planning attacks in the capital.
They added the Iraqi government has been unable to prevent terrorist attacks originating from or within Iraqi territory. In Israel, sirens have sounded across the country as they celebrate the start of the Jewish holiday of Passover.
Iran and Hezbollah fired a fresh barrage of missiles at central and northern Israel, leaving several injured.
Strikes have continued here across the Gulf, with a missile intercepted near Khalifa port. One of the UAE's largest logistics hubs just outside Abu Dhabi, causing minor damage. Saudi Arabia continues to intercept drones and missiles, targeting their oil fields in the east of the country.
And Bahrain closed traffic on a key highway due to falling debris during incoming attacks. Iran's revolutionary guard says they've targeted U.S. linked, steel, and aluminium facilities in the region, and warned that any further strikes on Iranian industry will be met with a more painful response.
Qatar has written to the UN, saying Iran's attacks on civilian targets is a blatant violation of its sovereignty.
Nearly five weeks in, it seems nothing is off the table.The rhetoric is hardening. Trump's still threatening an ultimatum, while Iran says the war will only end with the enemy's surrender. And with markets now pricing in escalation, it points to a conflict that may be entering a more dangerous phase.
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