Newsweek is reporting growing concerns that the war in Iran is approaching a dangerous moment, with the situation potentially spiraling out of control. It said the conflict, previously contained to Iran, Israel, Lebanon and the U.S., is now expanding.
Newsweek said the Houthis of Yemen have declared a blockade of Saudi tanker traffic through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a critical global maritime chokepoint linking the Red Sea to the Suez Canal. The Houthis claim to have already struck at least two tankers and vowed to attack any vessels transporting Saudi crude through the strait. Newsweek emphasized the strait's importance, noting it is as vulnerable as the Strait of Hormuz and its disruption could force ships to reroute around the Cape of Good Hope, significantly increasing costs and transit times. It highlighted that such a blockade could severely impact global container traffic, a third of which passes through the Suez Canal.
The publication noted that Brent crude oil prices crossed $100 per barrel recently, up 12 percent in a week. It said experts believe sustained prices of $125 per barrel could trigger a major global recession, especially as countries draw down energy reserves. Newsweek suggested this economic leverage is Iran's "trump card."
Newsweek also reported on President Donald J Trump's potential response. It said Israeli intelligence, according to a Wall Street Journal report, believes Iran has moved its uranium-enrichment program deep inside Pickaxe Mountain, a highly protected nuclear site. Newsweek observed that this report then made its way to Fox News, which aired segments discussing how precision strikes could penetrate the site. It said Trump has since begun speaking openly about bombing Pickaxe Mountain "very heavily" soon. Newsweek expressed concern that Trump, who dislikes humiliation, might be influenced by such media narratives to escalate the conflict, potentially considering a first-strike option on Iran, with the chances of a nuclear conflict rising daily.