President Donald Trump indicated on Friday that the United States might soon begin scaling back its military campaign against Iran. This announcement comes as Washington temporarily relaxed sanctions on Iranian oil shipments, aiming to alleviate the ongoing global energy supply crisis. The move to ease restrictions on Iranian crude is seen as a strategic effort to stabilize volatile oil markets amid rising prices and supply concerns.
Meanwhile, Iran intensified its military activities by launching a fresh series of drone and missile strikes targeting Saudi Arabia and Israel. These attacks followed statements from Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, who claimed that his country had delivered a “dizzying blow” to its adversaries in the region. The escalation underscores the continuing volatility in the Middle East, where tensions between Iran and its neighbors remain dangerously high.
In a post on his social media platform Truth Social, Donald Trump expressed optimism about the progress of US military objectives, stating that the country was “getting very close to meeting our objectives as we consider winding down our great Military efforts in the Middle East.” This message marked the clearest signal yet that the Trump administration may be preparing to end the hostilities that began on February 28. The prospect of a drawdown reflects a shift in US strategy after several weeks of intensified military operations.
Shortly after Trump’s statement, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt posted on X, affirming that the President and the Pentagon had initially projected a timeline of approximately four to six weeks to accomplish their mission. She highlighted that as the third week approached, US Armed Forces were performing exceptionally well. Leavitt emphasized that the Iranian regime was being significantly weakened, with its capacity to threaten the United States and its allies diminishing day by day.
In response to the global energy crunch, the US Treasury Department announced a temporary lifting of sanctions on Iranian oil that had already been loaded onto vessels before March 20. This authorization, effective until April 19, permits the delivery and sale of these petroleum products, effectively unlocking around 140 million barrels of oil for the global market. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent explained that this measure would help ease the temporary supply pressures caused by Iran’s actions, providing much-needed relief to energy markets worldwide.
Iran’s effective blockade of the Strait of Hormuz—a critical chokepoint through which roughly 20 percent of the world’s oil and gas passes—combined with repeated attacks on energy infrastructure across the Middle East, has driven crude oil prices sharply higher. On Friday, the price of North Sea Brent crude surged by 3.26 percent, reaching $112.19 per barrel. This spike in oil prices also triggered a steep decline in stock markets on Wall Street, fueled by fears that prolonged supply disruptions could precipitate a global economic slowdown.
Adding to the regional turmoil, fresh explosions rocked Tehran on Friday. Israel accused Iran of targeting sacred sites in Jerusalem after a missile strike created a large crater in the Old City, close to the Al-Aqsa Mosque, the Western Wall, and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. Saudi Arabia reported intercepting and destroying over 20 Iranian drones in the eastern part of the kingdom early Saturday, while Israel confirmed that another wave of missiles had been launched from Iranian territory.
Iranian forces continued their assaults on energy facilities in the Gulf region. On Friday, drone attacks struck Kuwait’s massive Mina Al-Ahmadi refinery, igniting a fire that was subsequently controlled. This incident came just a day after a direct hit on Qatar’s crucial Ras Laffan natural gas complex, further escalating tensions in the energy sector.
In a related development, the Israeli military launched a series of strikes on Beirut, the capital of Lebanon, early Saturday. These attacks targeted Hezbollah, the Iran-backed militant group operating in the area. Prior to the strikes, Israeli forces warned residents in several neighborhoods to evacuate, signaling the seriousness of the operation. Meanwhile, Turkey condemned Israel for bombing Syrian army positions in southern Syria, labeling the action as a “dangerous escalation.” Despite these regional conflicts, Syria has so far managed to avoid becoming directly involved in the broader Middle Eastern war.
