US strikes Iran’s Qeshm Island amid faltering diplomacy

Photo — AmirHadi Manavi Moghadam / Pexels

The strikes appeared limited rather than a return to major combat operations, but they sharply complicated diplomatic efforts between Washington and Tehran. Reports of mediation had helped drive crude prices down by about 7% before the attacks prompted a partial rebound, underscoring the risks to global energy supplies through the Strait of Hormuz.[1][2] The episode also coincides with major US midterm elections, adding political pressure to an already volatile security situation.[1]

Sources: Reuters, The Wall Street Journal