Deep Dive: US and Israel launch heaviest airstrikes on Iran amid threats to block Gulf oil shipments

The escalation marked by the heaviest day of strikes on Iran reflects a culmination of longstanding tensions in the Middle East, where the US and Israel have pursued strategic interests to counter Iran's regional influence through its proxy networks and nuclear ambitions. Iran's Revolutionary Guards (IRGC, the elite military force ideologically committed to the Islamic Revolution and exporting Shia influence) represent a key actor whose threat to blockade the Strait of Hormuz—the chokepoint for 20% of global oil—underscores Tehran's leverage over energy markets despite its military setbacks. From a geopolitical lens, this intensifies a proxy conflict turned direct, with Israel's security doctrine prioritizing preemptive action against existential threats from Iran, while the US under Trump balances hawkish containment with market-driven de-escalation pressures. Tehran's bombardment, described by residents as unrelenting across the city, highlights the urban warfare dynamics in a densely populated capital of over 9 million, where cultural resilience rooted in Persian history of endurance clashes with modern fears for civilian safety. Cross-border implications ripple to Gulf allies like Saudi Arabia and UAE, whose oil infrastructure remains vulnerable, and to Europe and Asia dependent on uninterrupted flows. Global markets' anticipation of Trump's intervention reveals economic interdependence trumping military logic, as oil price volatility could trigger inflation worldwide. Key stakeholders include the Pentagon orchestrating precision strikes with advanced intelligence, contrasting Iran's asymmetric responses via Guards' maritime threats. The human toll in Tehran, with families unable to sleep amid ruins of residential buildings, amplifies humanitarian concerns monitored by international bodies. Outlook hinges on diplomatic off-ramps, but IRGC's defiance suggests prolonged shadow war risks broader conflagration involving Hezbollah or Yemen's Houthis.