By Desmond Nleya
Dubai- The conflict involving the United States, Israel, and Iran may be coming to an end with U.S. President Donald Trump announcing a temporary halt to planned American strikes on Iran’s energy infrastructure.
Trump said Washington and Tehran had engaged in what he described as “very good and productive conversations” over the past two days, raising the possibility of a broader diplomatic breakthrough.
As a result, the United States will delay any attacks on Iran’s energy facilities for five days, offering a narrow window for de-escalation in a rapidly expanding conflict.
Despite this pause, tensions on the ground continue to escalate.
Meanwhile, Iran’s National Defence Council issued a stark warning as a U.S.-imposed deadline expired, stating that any attack on its coastal regions or islands would trigger the mining of critical maritime routes in the Persian Gulf. Such a move could severely disrupt global oil shipments and further destabilize international markets.
Israel has intensified its military operations beyond its borders. Israeli forces destroyed the Qasimiyah Bridge over the Litani River in southern Lebanon, a key route in the region. Lebanese President Joseph Aoun condemned the strike, warning it could signal the beginning of a ground invasion.
Hostilities between Israel and Iran also continue to escalate directly. Israeli defense systems intercepted multiple Iranian missile launches, while coordinated U.S.-Israeli air raids targeted Iranian positions.
In Iraq, air strikes hit the Baghdad headquarters of the Popular Mobilisation Forces, a paramilitary group aligned with Tehran. The strikes followed reported attacks on a U.S. diplomatic and logistics facility near Baghdad’s main airport, further widening the scope of the conflict.
With multiple fronts now active—from the Persian Gulf to Lebanon and Iraq—the situation remains highly fluid. Trump’s five-day pause may offer a brief diplomatic opening, but continued military actions suggest that the region is still on the brink of a broader and more destructive war.
Source: Aljazeera
