Iran launched multiple waves of missiles at Israel, the Israeli military said, triggering air raid sirens in several areas, including Tel Aviv, where explosions from intercepted missiles were heard. In one incident, falling debris damaged homes in northern Israel, though no deaths were reported.
The escalation came after Donald Trump announced he would delay a planned strike on Iran’s power grid for five days, citing what he described as “very good and productive” talks with Iranian officials aimed at resolving hostilities in the Middle East.
However, Iran quickly rejected the claim, with Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf stating that no negotiations had taken place and accusing the U.S. of spreading misinformation to influence financial and oil markets.
Meanwhile, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said it was launching fresh attacks on U.S. targets, dismissing Trump’s remarks as “psychological operations” with no impact on Tehran’s stance.
Global markets initially rallied after Trump extended his deadline for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a key route for about 20% of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas. However, uncertainty returned as conflicting signals emerged from Washington and Tehran.
Oil prices rebounded, with Brent crude rising 4.2% to $104.21 per barrel, while U.S. crude increased 4.3% to $91.93, reversing some of the previous day’s sharp declines.
Market analysts warned that the situation remains highly volatile, with ongoing tensions continuing to pose risks to global energy supplies and financial stability.
