Tehran vows 'crushing' blows to US after Trump threatens to send Iran to 'stone age'

Key Points:

• Iran threatened “crushing” attacks on the US and Israel and launched missiles at Israel following President Trump’s vow to bomb Iran “back to the Stone Ages,” escalating the ongoing conflict that has spread across the Middle East and disrupted the global economy.
• US airstrikes targeted and destroyed the B1 highway bridge near Tehran, killing at least two people, while Israeli forces killed several top Iranian military officials, including the commander of ballistic missile forces in western Iran.
• Iran responded with increased missile launches against Israel during the Passover holiday, firing around 20 ballistic missiles and warning of broader, more destructive actions if the conflict continues.
• Despite threats and ongoing violence, talks mediated by Pakistan are reportedly continuing, with the US open to a ceasefire if Iran meets demands such as reopening the Strait of Hormuz, though Iran has dismissed US ceasefire conditions as maximalist.
• The war has severely impacted Iran’s industrial capacity, with major steel plants shut down due to repeated strikes, and regional instability has affected Gulf allies, global markets, and economies worldwide, causing fuel price spikes, supply shortages, and economic hardship in countries as far as Bhutan.