BlockBeats news, April 24. The US-Iran game continued to escalate overnight last night: Iran accuses the US and Israel of being the root cause of regional turmoil, claims to have drawn up a list of targets for retaliation, and is continuously expanding its armament; meanwhile, high-level officials have taken the rare step of ‘unified messaging’ to deny internal divisions. The US has called for its citizens in Iran to evacuate, Donald Trump reiterated that he will not use nuclear weapons, and stated that the US military has completed its ‘strongest ever’ deployment in the Middle East, ready to expand strikes if the ceasefire collapses.
Israel’s war readiness escalates: Israel has placed a supplementary order worth $200 million for aviation munitions, with the defense minister stating it is prepared to resume operations against Iran; the conflict in southern Lebanon has not ceased, and Hezbollah continues to exchange fire with the Israeli military.
Heightened confrontation in the Strait of Hormuz: Around the Strait of Hormuz, the US has intercepted an Iranian oil tanker; Trump threatened to sink mine-laying ships, or even impose a ‘complete blockade.’ Iran has already begun collecting passage fees, bringing the game into an operational phase.
Growing differences in ceasefire negotiations: The US claims the ceasefire is still in effect, while Iran says a short-term breakthrough in talks is possible but emphasizes that ‘without US concession, there will be no talks.’ The focus of negotiations has shifted from nuclear issues to an overall cessation of hostilities.
Key observation points: Whether the strait is blocked or the ceasefire collapses will directly impact oil prices and global market risk appetite.
