The war between the United States and Iran entered its eighth day today, March 7, with the exchange of strikes continuing in more than one arena in the region. Reuters and the Associated Press reported that mutual military operations continued as the conflict entered its second week, amid continued missile and drone attacks that affected several areas in the Middle East during the past days.
In a significant political development, Iranian President Masoud Bazeshkian announced that Iran's interim leadership council agreed to suspend military strikes against neighboring countries, stressing that this decision will remain in force unless attacks against Iran are launched from the territories of those countries. This statement came after reports that Gulf countries such as the UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia were attacked by drones and missiles during the past week. In a related context, the Associated Press quoted Bazeshkian as apologizing to the Gulf Arab countries for the attacks that affected their territories in recent days, indicating that these attacks were the result of what he described as miscommunication within some units.
On the other hand, Reuters quoted US President Donald Trump as saying that Iran will be hit very hard this day, adding that he is considering expanding the range of targets that may be included in the military operations. Trump did not provide additional details about the nature or timing of the strikes, but he indicated that areas and categories that were not within the scope of previous operations may be targeted.
Trump also emphasized in other statements quoted by Reuters that the United States will not enter into any agreement with Iran unless what he described as unconditional surrender, in a reference to the continued US position of refusing to start new negotiations while military operations continue.
On the ground, media reports reported that strikes and mutual attacks continued during the day with the continued firing of missiles and drones in several regions. The Associated Press reported that the bombing continued in Iran and Lebanon during the past hours, in parallel with the continued attacks on some cities in the region, while reports spoke of continuing military tension despite the political statements issued by Tehran regarding the suspension of attacks on neighboring countries.
The Associated Press reports that more than 1,230 people have been killed inside Iran since the beginning of the military operations. More than 200 people have been killed in Lebanon as a result of conflict-related strikes, while the death toll in Israel has reached 11. Six US military personnel have been reportedly killed in attacks in the region in recent days.
In an internal political development within Iran, Reuters reported that two prominent religious figures have called for a speedy selection of a new Supreme Leader following the death of Ali Khamenei. The Iranian constitution allows up to three months for the selection of a new leader, but the current war conditions raise questions about the ability of the 88-member Assembly of Experts to meet and decide in these circumstances.
Azerbaijan announced that it had foiled several sabotage plots that it said the IRGC was behind. Azerbaijani authorities said the plots included a plan to target the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline, as well as other targets including the Israeli embassy in Baku, a synagogue, and a prominent mountain Jewish figure.
Economically, Reuters reports that the war has had a major impact on global energy markets. Nearly a fifth of global oil and gas supplies have been disrupted by military tensions and threats to navigation in the Strait of Hormuz. Oil prices have risen 24% in the past week to more than $90 per barrel.
Oil shipments from a number of producing countries in the region, including Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Iraq and Kuwait, were reportedly halted, while some oil facilities in the region were damaged or forced to temporarily suspend operations. Qatar reportedly declared a state of force majeure on some gas exports this week as a result of war-related unrest.
In the US, Reuters reports that fuel prices have risen as a result of the global supply disruption, with gasoline and diesel prices registering notable increases in recent days as the war continues to impact global energy traffic.
Overall, today's reports characterize the situation as an ongoing conflict that has entered its second week, with military operations continuing and political and economic tensions in the region, with no clear signs of an end to the fighting anytime soon.
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