Iran launched fresh missile attacks on Israel and Gulf Arab states on Thursday, underscoring its continued military capability even as Donald Trump claimed Tehran’s threat had been largely neutralised.
Explosions were reported in Dubai as air defence systems intercepted Iranian missiles, while sirens sounded in Bahrain, home to the US Navy’s Fifth Fleet. Israel also said it was working to intercept incoming projectiles shortly after Trump’s address.
In a televised speech, Trump said US military operations had met or exceeded objectives and that Iran was “really no longer a threat,” though he warned strikes would continue in the coming weeks.
Iran rejected the claim, with military spokesman Ebrahim Zolfaghari saying Tehran retains hidden stockpiles of weapons and that targeted sites were “insignificant.”
The conflict has severely disrupted global energy supplies, particularly through the Strait of Hormuz, a key oil transit route. Shipping traffic has dropped sharply, pushing oil prices higher, with Brent crude rising to around $108 per barrel.
Meanwhile, fighting continues across the region. More than 1,900 people have been killed in Iran, while deaths have also been reported in Israel, Gulf states, Lebanon and among US forces.
Diplomatic efforts are ongoing, with nearly three dozen countries discussing ways to secure the Strait once hostilities end, though no nation has yet committed to reopening it by force.