DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Iran hit a tanker off the coast of Qatar and Kuwait International Airport early Wednesday. Meanwhile, Tehran continued its attacks on its Gulf Arab neighbors. However, Iran acknowledged for the first time that Washington had contacted Tehran directly about a possible ceasefire.

At the same time, Israel warned of incoming attacks from both Yemen and Iran. In response, Israel launched its own attacks in Lebanon, killing at least five people.

Despite these developments, the war showed no clear signs of slowing down. More than 3,000 people have already lost their lives. Nevertheless, U.S. President Donald Trump suggested that the conflict could end within two weeks.

However, Trump also moved to send thousands more U.S. troops to the region. As a result, the deployment raised further questions about Washington’s strategy as the conflict continued to spread across the Middle East.

Trump’s changing course on Strait of Hormuz strategy raises questions about US war preparation

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — At war with Iran, President Donald Trump is cycling through an increasingly desperate list of options as he searches for a solution to the crisis in the Strait of Hormuz. He has jumped from calls to secure the waterway through diplomatic means to lifting sanctions and now escalating to a direct threat against civilian infrastructure in the Islamic Republic.

Trump and his allies insist they were always prepared for Iran to block the strait, yet the Republican president’s erratic strategy has fueled criticism that he is grasping for answers after going to war without a clear exit plan. On Saturday came his latest attempt, via an ultimatum to Iran: Open the strait within 48 hours or the United States will “obliterate” the country’s power plants.

Trump’s aides defended the threat as a hard-edged tactic to press Iran into submission. Opponents framed it as the failure of a president who miscalculated what it would take to get out of a geopolitical mire.

War Imminent?” Trump-Iran Clash Explodes as Strait of Hormuz Crisis Deepens

Global tensions are reaching a boiling point as Donald Trump takes a hard stance against Iran, triggering fears of a major conflict in the Strait of Hormuz. With oil routes at risk and military pressure rising, the world watches closely—could this be the start of a larger war? The situation is evolving fast, and its impact could shake global stability.