U.S. and Israel Escalate Pressure on Iran Over Strait of Hormuz as War Enters Sixth Week

Six weeks into the U.S.-Israeli military conflict with Iran, tensions are reaching a critical point as President Donald Trump issued a 48-hour ultimatum demanding that Tehran open the Strait of Hormuz or face devastating strikes on its energy infrastructure. The warning, posted on Truth Social, followed an earlier ten-day deadline that has now nearly expired.

Senior Israeli defense officials confirmed that Israel is preparing to strike Iranian energy facilities and is awaiting authorization from Washington. The potential attacks could come within days, adding another layer of urgency to an already volatile situation.

Despite mounting military pressure, Iran's foreign minister signaled limited openness to peace negotiations through Pakistani mediation, but stopped short of agreeing to any of Trump's key demands. Tehran's posture remains largely defiant, even as the conflict has claimed thousands of lives, triggered a global energy crisis, and disrupted nearly one-fifth of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas supply flowing through the Hormuz Strait.

Iranian forces have continued offensive operations, launching drone strikes against U.S. radar installations and military facilities in the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait. Iran also struck an Israel-affiliated vessel in the strait, setting it ablaze.

The war's risks became sharply evident after Iran downed a U.S. F-15E fighter jet, with search-and-rescue teams still looking for one missing crew member reportedly inside Iranian territory. Two Black Hawk helicopters involved in the search sustained fire but returned safely. A separate U.S. A-10 Warthog also went down over Kuwait, though its pilot ejected successfully.

Iran claimed credit for using newly developed domestic air defense systems in the engagements, while Israel confirmed striking a petrochemical facility in southwestern Iran allegedly used to produce missile and explosive materials.