【Wen / Observer Net, Xiong Chaoran】The United States and Israel launched attacks first, and then Iran retaliated. The three-way conflict between the US, Israel, and Iran, which has lasted nearly two weeks, currently shows no signs of a ceasefire.

According to AFP and CBS on March 11 local time, Ali Fadavi, advisor to the commander of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, said in an interview with Iranian state television: "Israel and the United States must consider that they will be plunged into a long-term war of attrition, a war that will destroy the US economy and weaken its military capabilities to the brink of collapse."

One day earlier (March 10), Kamal Kharazi, foreign policy advisor to the office of Iran's Supreme Leader, warned during an exclusive interview with CNN in Tehran that the Iranian government was prepared for a "long war" with the US and hinted that Iran might continue attacking Gulf states to force them to urge President Trump to withdraw forces from the conflict.

Kharazi ruled out the possibility of resolving the issue through diplomatic means and said that "only economic pain can end it now." CNN noted that this indicates the Iranian government's stance has become more hardened as the war continues.

Meanwhile, as Iran strengthens control over the Strait of Hormuz, under political pressure caused by the economic impact of the war, Trump claimed that there are almost no targets in Iran for the US military to attack, and the war would "end soon." AFP reported that since February 28, when the US and Israel attacked Iran, killing its Supreme Leader Khamenei and dragging the Middle East into war, international oil prices have risen sharply.

March 11, 2026, Hebron city in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, Iran missiles heading to Israel, the ongoing conflict between the US, Israel, and Iran. IC Photo

It is reported that the Strait of Hormuz carries one-fifth of the world's oil supply, and the current Middle East war has directly led Iran to close this important global route, causing shipping in the strait to almost come to a standstill.

On March 9, global oil prices rose sharply, reaching above $100 per barrel, a psychological threshold.

To control the sharp rise in oil prices, the International Energy Agency (IEA) stated that its member countries will release 400 million barrels of oil from their reserves, which is the largest release of oil reserves in history.

IEA Director Fatih Birol told reporters: "This is a significant measure aimed at alleviating the direct impact of market disruptions. However, it must be clear that the key to restoring stable flows of oil and natural gas lies in restoring passage through the Strait of Hormuz."

AFP reported that after Iran fired at two merchant ships in the Persian Gulf and caused at least one ship to catch fire, oil prices still saw a slight increase.

Iran said that the reason for attacking these two ships in the Gulf was because they "ignored" the warnings of the Iranian navy and entered the Strait of Hormuz擅自.

The Omani navy rescued 20 crew members from one of the ships, the Thai bulk carrier Mayuree Naree. According to photos released by the Thai navy, the ship was emitting thick black smoke at the time.

March 11, a Thai vessel was attacked in the Strait of Hormuz. Video screenshot

Meanwhile, on March 11 local time, while visiting Ohio, USA, Trump claimed that the US had sunk 28 Iranian mine-laying ships. He also said that the US had sunk 58 Iranian naval vessels and destroyed their navy.

During an interview with Axios News on the same day, Trump also claimed that the war "would soon" end because Iran "had almost nothing left to attack."

However, Israel said that Iran still had "many targets available for attack."

"We will expand our area of operations," said Effie Defrin, a spokesperson for the Israeli military, during a televised briefing.

Since the military conflict between the US, Israel, and Iran, about 10 ships have been attacked in the Strait of Hormuz and surrounding areas. IC Photo

Analysts point out that the prolonged closure of the Strait of Hormuz would have a devastating impact on the global economy, especially on Asian and European economies. The strait is also a transportation route for fertilizers needed for one-third of the world's food production.

Amin H. Nasser, CEO and president of Saudi Aramco, the world's largest oil company, said: "Although we have encountered navigation disruptions before, this is undoubtedly the biggest crisis faced by the region's oil and gas industry so far."

French President Macron urged G7 leaders to "act as soon as possible" to restore navigation in the strait. The United Nations also called on all parties to allow humanitarian supplies to pass through.

At around 1:00 PM local time on March 11 (01:00 AM Beijing time on March 12), the UN Security Council passed a resolution draft submitted by Bahrain on behalf of the Gulf Cooperation Council member states and Jordan, supported by 135 UN member states, becoming Resolution No. 2817 of the Security Council. Russia and China cast abstention votes.

The resolution condemned Iran's attacks on multiple Gulf states, stating that such actions violate international law and pose a threat to international peace and security; the resolution expressed regret over attacks on civilian targets and the casualties of civilians; the resolution demanded that Iran immediately cease attacks on these countries and fully fulfill its obligations under international law; the resolution also condemned any actions or threats by Iran to close or hinder international shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.

In reports from Western media such as AFP, the emphasis is constantly on the serious damage caused by Iran to the two economic pillars of the Gulf region—energy production and commercial aviation. However, the true instigator of this Middle East war—the United States and Israel—is not mentioned at all, and there is no mention of the two countries starting the war first.

At around 1:00 PM local time on March 11 (01:00 AM Beijing time on March 12), the UN Security Council failed to pass a resolution draft submitted by Russia aiming to urge an end to the conflict in the Middle East. Russia, China, Pakistan, and Somalia voted in favor, while the US and Latvia voted against.

The resolution draft expressed sorrow over the "tragic loss of life" caused by the ongoing hostilities in the Middle East, called on all parties to immediately stop military action and avoid further escalation of the situation in the region and beyond; the resolution draft condemned all attacks on civilians and civilian targets, called for protection of these targets according to international humanitarian law, and emphasized the importance of ensuring the security of all countries in the region; the resolution draft also called on all parties to "return to the negotiating table without delay" and make full use of political and diplomatic means to resolve the crisis.

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Original: toutiao.com/article/7616159812484727336/

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