A day of intensified strikes, diplomatic maneuvering and market turbulence unfolded Thursday as the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran continued into its second month, with President Trump issuing fresh warnings and oil prices spiking.
Strikes and casualties
– Iranian state media reported strikes on the B1 bridge in Karaj, west of Tehran, that killed at least eight people and wounded 95. Many had gathered under the still-under-construction bridge and along the riverbank to celebrate Nature Day. Iranian agencies said a second strike hit the site as emergency teams were responding.
– Iranian officials also said the Pasteur Institute medical research center in Tehran was attacked; Iranian health authorities condemned the strike and called for international support for reconstruction. A U.S. official told reporters it was not a U.S. strike; the IDF said it was unaware of such an attack.
Trump’s warnings and social media posts
– President Trump posted on Truth Social that “Our Military … hasn’t even started destroying what’s left in Iran,” adding “Bridges next, then Electric Power Plants!” He posted video he said showed Iran’s biggest bridge crumbling and urged Iran “to make a deal.”
– In a prime-time address Wednesday night, Trump said U.S. forces would continue “extremely hard” strikes for two to three more weeks and repeated threats to target Iran’s energy infrastructure and power plants unless Tehran struck a deal.
Iranian responses
– Iran’s foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, said striking civilian structures, including unfinished bridges, would not compel Iranians to surrender and warned such attacks would damage America’s standing. Iran’s combined military command dismissed Trump’s assessment of Iran’s military capabilities as “incomplete” and vowed “more crushing, broader and more destructive” attacks.
– The commander of the IRGC Aerospace Force mocked threats to reduce Iran to the “stone ages” as a “Hollywood illusion,” warning that attempts to destroy Iran would cost American lives.
– Iran’s parliamentary speaker urged Iranians to defend their homeland, saying some 7 million had declared readiness to take up arms.
Military developments and claims
– CENTCOM denied reports that Iran shot down a U.S. fighter jet, saying all U.S. fighter aircraft are accounted for and that Iran has made similar false claims multiple times.
– Iran’s army claimed it intercepted and destroyed two U.S. MQ-9 Reaper drones near Shiraz; U.S. officials have said the U.S. military had lost a total of 16 MQ-9s during the war. Iran’s army said it had shot down 154 U.S. and Israeli drones since the war began.
– The UAE and Jordan reported intercepting Iranian missiles and drones; Saudi Arabia said it intercepted four Iranian drones. Israel said it struck dozens of Hezbollah targets in Lebanon as Lebanon’s death toll from Israeli operations rose above 1,300.
Regional and international diplomacy
– Some 40-plus countries joined a virtual meeting on the Strait of Hormuz, with Britain and many partners calling for the immediate and unconditional reopening of the vital shipping route. Britain accused Iran of holding the global economy hostage by paralyzing transit through the strait.
– The U.N. Security Council prepared to vote on a Bahraini resolution to secure the Strait of Hormuz. The draft was greatly watered down after objections from Russia and China; the final text authorizes defensive—but not offensive—measures to ensure safe transit.
– The Gulf Cooperation Council secretary-general urged the Security Council to authorize force to protect the strait. China blamed U.S. and Israeli strikes as the “root cause” of the blockade.
– Pakistan said it remains engaged in diplomacy to seek cessation of hostilities and is pursuing possible direct U.S.-Iran talks with backing from regional partners.
– Austria said it has refused U.S. requests for use of its airspace, citing neutrality law.
U.N. and global warnings
– U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres warned the conflict risked spiraling into a wider war that would engulf the Middle East and have dramatic global impacts, calling for an immediate halt to strikes and counterstrikes.
Security alerts and on-the-ground incidents
– The U.S. embassy in Baghdad warned that Iranian-aligned militia groups might attack central Baghdad in the next 24–48 hours and urged Americans to leave Iraq. That alert came after the abduction of American journalist Shelly Kittleson in Baghdad; Iraqi authorities detained a suspect with alleged ties to Kata’ib Hezbollah.
– Iranian state TV reported repeated U.S.-Israeli strikes on the B1 bridge and urged the public to stay away from the site after a subsequent strike as emergency crews responded.
Economic effects: oil and markets
– Oil futures surged: U.S. crude (WTI) rose nearly 12% at one point to just over $112 per barrel for May deliveries, while Brent crude climbed toward $109–$113 per barrel depending on the report. Markets reacted to Trump’s promise of further hard strikes and continued uncertainty over how and when the war might end.
– Stocks tumbled on renewed risk aversion. Early losses were sharp—at one point the Dow fell more than 600 points—but markets recovered some ground later in the day and closed mixed. Asian markets were down sharply after Trump’s remarks, and U.S. futures were lower ahead of trading.
– Pakistan raised fuel prices sharply—gas by 42.7% and diesel by 54.9%—citing surging global energy costs.
Other developments
– The U.S. Rewards for Justice program offered up to $3 million for information on attacks against U.S. diplomatic facilities in Iraq.
– Over 40 countries in talks on the Strait emphasized political and diplomatic measures to reopen the route; the U.S. did not attend that particular virtual meeting.
– Reports continued of missile salvos at Israel with at least two people wounded in northern Israel from shrapnel.
Political reactions
– Sen. Chris Murphy said the U.S. is “losing this war,” criticizing Trump’s approach and warning of rising regional power for Iran and destabilizing global costs.
– Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian posted an open letter in English appealing to Americans, saying attacks on Iran’s infrastructure target the Iranian people, risk international public health and carry broader consequences.
Outlook
The situation remained fluid with military strikes, claims and counterclaims continuing to drive diplomatic urgency and global market volatility. The U.N. and regional partners pressed for measures to secure maritime routes and avoid wider escalation even as both sides traded threats and reported operational successes.
