Iran vs US War: Oil Prices Spike | Hezbollah Drone Attacks | Israel on High Alert

Tensions in the Middle East are reaching a critical point as Iran wa s the United States of “long and painful strikes” if military action resumes under President Donald Trump. With the Strait of Hormuz under pressure, global oil prices briefly surged past $125 per barrel- raising fears of a wider economic shock. Meanwhile, Hezbollah has intensified its drone warfare campaign against Israel, exposing vulnerabilities in Israeli defence systems. Despite wa ings, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faces mounting pressure as casualties rise. Israel is now on high alert amid signals that the US could escalate strikes on Iran’s energy infrastructure. As diplomacy teeters, the risk of direct state conflict is growing. In Washington, even political optics are under scrutiny. A dress wo at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner has sparked debate over US-China tensions and “America First” messaging. Pankaj Mishra gets the details.