US and Iran attacks rage across Middle East

Key Points:

• The United States conducted its 11th consecutive night of airstrikes on Iran, targeting aircraft hangars and drone storage sites across multiple provinces, while Iran's air defenses responded over Tehran.
• Iran retaliated by launching missile and drone attacks on Jordan’s port city of Aqaba, with Jordan intercepting several missiles and drones; these attacks occurred near Israel but Iran has avoided direct strikes on Israeli territory.
• The conflict has heightened tensions around the Strait of Hormuz, a critical passage for global oil and gas trade, with Iran and its allied Houthi rebels threatening shipping routes, contributing to a rise in Brent crude prices above $94 a barrel.
• Diplomatic efforts to de-escalate the conflict remain uncertain, with Iranian officials seeking mediation through Pakistan, while U.S. leadership, including President Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, expressed skepticism about negotiations and condemned Iran's actions.
• The U.S. has reinstated a blockade of Iranian ports to disrupt oil trade, signaling an escalation in economic pressure alongside military actions in the ongoing conflict.