Most airports in western Iran have been temporarily closed. Additionally, Iran has warned that further attacks would trigger "Operation 3.0." Reports indicate that Iran's "third version of combat" could include "military blockades of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait and cutting off seven undersea internet cables beneath the Strait of Hormuz."
In the United States, the White House announced that Trump would adjust his schedule this weekend and remain at the White House. Reports suggest Trump is seriously considering whether to launch new strikes against Iran unless a breakthrough is achieved at the last minute through negotiations.
The Strait of Hormuz has also seen new developments. Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE recently sent a joint letter to the International Maritime Organization, opposing Iran’s establishment of a “Persian Gulf Strait Authority” and its issuance of related navigational advisories.
Ongoing disruptions to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz continue to push up gasoline prices. As a result, the U.S. consumer confidence index for May has dropped to a record low. Meanwhile, the European Union has announced it will suspend tariffs on certain fertilizer products to alleviate the impact of the Middle East conflict.
The sudden escalation of tensions in the Middle East is dragging the world into an unprecedented multi-dimensional crisis. Iran’s closure of its western airspace and revealing its "Operation 3.0" card, coupled with Trump canceling his private plans to stay at the White House, represent increasingly tense military and diplomatic moves signaling that the latest U.S.-Iran confrontation is approaching a critical tipping point.
The core of this crisis lies in Iran’s precise control over global energy and information chokepoints. Iran’s warning of "Operation 3.0" not only includes military blockades of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait but also threatens to sever seven undersea internet cables beneath the Strait of Hormuz.
This strategy is highly destructive—it no longer focuses solely on traditional energy blockades but directly places the global financial transactions and digital communication lifelines under threat of war, aiming to induce widespread paralysis as a countermeasure against potential military strikes.
Meanwhile, the five Gulf states have jointly written to the International Maritime Organization, firmly opposing Iran’s unilateral creation of the “Persian Gulf Strait Authority.” This is not just a geopolitical alignment but also a collective act of self-rescue by neighboring countries determined to protect their own economic lifelines.
Yet, this distant geostrategic storm has already delivered real-world blows to the global economy and people’s livelihoods.
Persistent obstruction of the Strait of Hormuz has led to global supply chain breakdowns, causing gasoline prices in the U.S. to surge by more than 50%, directly crushing public consumer sentiment and pushing the May consumer confidence index to its lowest level since 1952.
Across the ocean, the EU has not been spared. To mitigate the agricultural crisis caused by soaring fertilizer costs, it has had to urgently announce the suspension of tariffs on certain fertilizer products.
From gas stations in the U.S. to farmlands in Europe, rising living and production costs are rapidly translating into widespread social anxiety and political risks.
Although countries like Qatar are still conducting final diplomatic efforts, the peace window is shrinking rapidly amid escalating military confrontations.
If negotiations completely collapse, what follows will not only be full-scale war across the Middle East but also a systemic collapse of global energy, food, and digital security.
The ultimate outcome of this crisis will profoundly test the international community’s crisis management capabilities—and ordinary people around the world will inevitably bear heavy costs from this great power struggle.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1865972474166284/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author alone.