The United States and Israel conducted their most intense day of airstrikes on Tuesday since the start of the war against Iran, according to Pentagon officials and eyewitness accounts, even as financial markets anticipate a possible swift end to the conflict.
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stated that this day would mark "the largest number of fighter jets, the largest number of bombers, and the largest number of strikes" since the start of military operations. He also mentioned the use of more precise intelligence to target objectives in Iran.
In Tehran, several residents described particularly intense bombing overnight. "It was hell. They were bombing everywhere, in every neighborhood of Tehran," one resident told Reuters on condition of anonymity. According to him, the explosions sowed fear among civilians, especially children.
Despite the intensity of the strikes, financial markets seem to be betting on a de-escalation soon. The American president Donald Trump recently stated that the war could end quickly, which helped to partially calm the markets.
Tensions remain high, however. Iran's Revolutionary Guards have threatened to block oil exports from the Gulf if US and Israeli attacks continue.
Such a disruption to oil traffic could have significant consequences for the global economy, as a large proportion of energy exports transit through this strategic region.
After a sharp rise linked to the conflict, oil prices have fallen slightly while stock markets in Asia and Europe have rebounded, reflecting investors' hopes for a diplomatic solution in the short term.
