The war in Iran has entered its seventh day with a new wave of "large-scale" Israeli army attacks on Tehran as part of a "new phase" of the conflict, which has also extended to Lebanon with heavy bombings in Beirut.
Meanwhile, Iran warned this Friday that they are prepared for a prolonged war and threatened to use new strategic weapons in future operations. "Iran is ready for a long war to punish the aggressor," declared the spokesman for the Revolutionary Guard, who stated that Tehran will deploy a new generation of weaponry in the upcoming phases of the conflict that has not yet been used on a large scale on the battlefield, without providing further details.
Additionally, Donald Trump told NBC News that considering sending U.S. ground troops to Iran at this time would be "a waste of time" after the Iranian Foreign Minister stated they are prepared for it.
Trump Considers Sending Ground Troops to Iran Would Be "a Waste of Time"
President Donald Trump said on Thursday that considering sending U.S. ground troops to Iran at this time would be "a waste of time," as reported by NBC News, dismissing the Iranian Foreign Minister's warning that such a move would be a disaster.
"It's a waste of time. They've lost everything. They've lost their navy. They've lost everything they can lose," Trump said in a phone interview with the television network, Afp.
The Republican added that the Iranian Foreign Minister's statement that Tehran was prepared for a U.S. or Israeli ground invasion was a "useless comment," as Washington is not considering that possibility.
Explosions Heard in Tel Aviv Following Iranian Missile Alert
A series of approximately eight explosions were heard on Friday morning in Tel Aviv after an alert for Iranian missiles, reported AFP journalists.
"Recently, the army identified missiles launched from Iran towards the territory of the State of Israel. Defense systems are being activated to intercept this threat," the army stated in a release.
Israeli emergency services from Magen David Adom stated that no victims have been reported at the moment.
Markets Face High Instability on Friday: Oil and Logistics Prices Rise, Gas Prices Fall
Energy market prices continue to rise, creating tension in a market where investors are uncertain about what to believe, and volatility is high. The war in Iran continues, reaching its seventh day this Friday, spreading to more countries and companies present in the Persian Gulf.
Alert in Dubai for "Possible Missile Threats"
Residents of Dubai received an alert on their mobile phones this Friday from the Ministry of Interior of the United Arab Emirates urging them to take shelter due to "possible missile threats," confirmed AFP correspondents.
"Considering the current situation and the possible missile threat, immediately take refuge in the nearest secure building and stay away from windows, doors, and open spaces," the ministry alert states, while Iran continues its campaign of retaliation in the Gulf.
Iran Reports 20 Dead in Shiraz Bombing
An Iranian official stated this Friday that at least 20 people died in bombings by the United States and Israel in the city of Shiraz in the south of the country, as reported by Afp, which could not verify the figure.
Macron Affirms France "Will Not Get Involved in This War" Against Iran
France "will not get involved in this war" against Iran, stated French President Emmanuel Macron in a question-and-answer session with internet users on Instagram. In that exchange, the French head of state sought to reassure his interlocutors about the military escalation caused by the U.S. and Israeli offensive in Iran, which has spread to the region.
"I understand perfectly and share your concern, but I wanted to be very clear: France is not part of this war. We are not in combat, and we will not get involved in it," Macron said in response to a young internet user on Thursday night. He emphasized that "France is not waging war in this region" but "protecting the French, their allies, and supporting Lebanon."
Macron announced a plan last night to end Hezbollah's military activities, while promising to send military aid to the Lebanese Army. In this war context, Paris has sent military reinforcements to the Middle East and North Africa, including the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle to protect French citizens and support allies facing Iranian reprisals, especially to help intercept drones and missiles, as well as to facilitate maritime traffic.
US Considers Intervening in the Oil Futures Market to Curb Price Increases
The U.S. government is considering intervening in the oil futures market to curb the price increase resulting from the conflict in Iran, according to a report published on CNBC citing Efe.
Oil and gas prices have surged in the last five sessions, with the market fearing a disruption in the supply flow through the Strait of Hormuz due to the conflict. This Friday, Brent crude, the European benchmark, is down 0.57% to $84.95 per barrel, and West Texas Intermediate, the U.S. benchmark, is down 0.68% to $80.46.
The report details that a senior White House official stated that the U.S. Treasury Department is expected to announce measures to combat the rising energy prices due to the conflict with Iran, including a possible action involving the oil futures market.
52 French Ships Trapped in the Gulf
Around 50 French ships are currently blocked in the Persian Gulf, with another eight in the Red Sea, as announced this Friday by French Transport Minister Philippe Tabarot, as Paris seeks support to form a coalition of countries to ensure maritime traffic in the region. "There are around 50 ships—52 to be precise—in the Persian Gulf and eight in the Red Sea, and we are in constant contact with the crews, as there are French sailors on board several of these vessels," Tabarot stated to the French channel CNews/Europe 1, according to Reuters.
Nikkei Closes with a 0.62% Increase
The main index of the Tokyo Stock Exchange, the Nikkei, rose by 0.62% this Friday in an unstable day marked by concerns about the impact of the Iran war on oil prices.
The index, which includes the 225 most representative titles in the market, added 342.78 points, reaching 55,620.84 points, after starting the session lower following Wall Street's trend.
The broader Topix index, which includes the main section firms, those with the highest capitalization, grew by 0.39%, or 14.26 points, to 3,716.93 units.
The Tokyo stock market was divided during the day between sales due to the unstable situation in the Middle East, the purchase of cheap stocks, and optimism about artificial intelligence (AI). Reports Efe.
Maersk Suspends Two Maritime Transport Services
Maersk will temporarily suspend its FM1 service, which connects the Far East with the Middle East, and its ME11 service, which connects the Middle East with Europe, as announced by the shipping group in a statement issued on Friday.
"This decision has been taken as a precautionary measure to ensure the safety of our personnel and our vessels while minimizing disruption to operations across our network," Maersk stated in a release to its clients.
Saudi Arabia Intercepts Three Drones East of Riyadh
The Saudi Ministry of Defense announced that it destroyed three drones east of the capital, Riyadh, this Friday as Iran continues its attacks in the Gulf for the seventh consecutive day in retaliation for the U.S.-Israeli campaign, reported Afp.
"Three drones were intercepted and destroyed east of the Riyadh region," stated a spokesperson for the Ministry of Defense. Friday morning, Saudi authorities announced the interception of three missiles heading towards the Prince Sultan Air Base, which houses U.S. military personnel near Riyadh.