\nUSIsrael, War, Iran, Escalation, Leadership<\/span>
\nThe US-Israel War on Iran: Escalation, Leadership Transition, and Global Ripples \u2013 Day 11 Update.<\/span>\n<\/div>\n
<\/p>\n By Juba Global News Network | JubaGlobal.comMarch 10, 2026 Origins and Rapid Escalation<\/strong><\/p>\n The war\u2019s roots trace back to failed negotiations in late 2025 and early 2026. The Trump administration imposed a 60-day deadline for Iran to reach a new nuclear and regional influence deal. When no agreement materialized, U.S. and Israeli forces launched large-scale strikes targeting Iranian military commanders, nuclear-related facilities, oil infrastructure, and top leadership. In the opening hours, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed, along with key figures including IRGC commanders and defense officials.<\/p>\n Iran responded swiftly with missile and drone barrages against Israel, U.S. bases in the region, and Gulf allies. Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Kuwait, and Qatar reported intercepting incoming projectiles, while Hezbollah targets in Lebanon faced renewed Israeli strikes. By early March, the conflict had spread, with reports of Iranian drones targeting Gulf states and Israel conducting precision hits on Iranian air force headquarters and oil depots in Tehran.<\/p>\n The U.S. military claims significant successes: Iran\u2019s navy, air force, missile stockpiles, and drone capabilities have been \u201cvirtually wiped out\u201d or severely degraded, with operations reportedly far ahead of schedule. However, Iran has demonstrated resilience through asymmetric tactics, including threats to commercial shipping and continued launches despite heavy losses.<\/p>\n Leadership Vacuum Filled: Mojtaba Khamenei Emerges as New Supreme Leader<\/strong><\/p>\n In a move that solidified hardliner control amid chaos, Iran\u2019s Assembly of Experts swiftly appointed Mojtaba Khamenei\u2014son of the slain Ayatollah Ali Khamenei\u2014as the new Supreme Leader on March 8. At 56, Mojtaba, a mid-ranking cleric long seen as a shadowy power broker behind his father\u2019s regime, now holds ultimate authority over Iran\u2019s military, judiciary, and foreign policy.<\/p>\n Analysts describe the transition as cementing the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps\u2019 (IRGC) grip on power, with Mojtaba expected to pursue a defiant, resistance-oriented path. Iran\u2019s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has declared no future negotiations with the U.S., citing a \u201cbitter experience\u201d of betrayal after progress in prior talks. The IRGC has insisted that Iran\u2014not the U.S.\u2014will dictate when the war ends.<\/p>\n Trump has previously called Mojtaba an \u201cunacceptable\u201d choice, signaling potential for prolonged confrontation. The new leader\u2019s appointment coincided with fresh Iranian missile volleys and vows of continued retaliation.<\/p>\n The Strait of Hormuz Crisis: World\u2019s Energy Lifeline Under Threat<\/strong><\/p>\n At the heart of global anxiety lies the Strait of Hormuz<\/strong>, the narrow chokepoint through which roughly 20-30% of the world\u2019s seaborne oil typically flows. Since the war\u2019s outbreak, Iran has effectively disrupted transit: declaring the strait closed to hostile vessels, attacking attempted passages with drones and missiles, and prompting a near-total halt in commercial traffic.<\/p>\n Ship-tracking data shows daily transits plummeting from over 150 vessels pre-conflict to an average of just 13 in recent days. No ships\u2014including those from major buyers like China\u2014are getting through without extreme risk. The U.S. has warned of massive retaliation if flows are blocked, with Trump vowing Iran would be hit \u201ctwenty times harder\u201d or \u201cat a much, much harder level\u201d for any disruption.<\/p>\n European allies, led by France, are discussing a \u201cdefensive\u201d coalition mission to reopen the strait, framing attacks on energy routes as threats to continental security.<\/p>\n Oil Prices and Economic Shockwaves<\/strong><\/p>\n The disruption has triggered the largest energy supply shock in modern history. Brent crude prices surged dramatically in the war\u2019s first week, briefly exceeding $100\u2013$110 per barrel amid panic buying and fears of prolonged closure.<\/p>\n As of March 10, 2026, prices show volatility: recent sessions saw highs near $95\u2013$99 before dipping (e.g., closing around $85\u2013$91 in some futures contracts), partly on Trump\u2019s optimistic signals that the war could wrap up \u201cvery soon.\u201d Markets reacted with relief to his comments, but experts caution this may reflect tactical messaging rather than reality\u2014some former advisers suggest possible market manipulation.<\/p>\n Gasoline prices in the U.S. and globally have skyrocketed, straining economies already facing inflation pressures. Developing nations, including those in Africa, face acute risks of fuel shortages and higher import costs.<\/p>\n Trump\u2019s Messaging: Victory in Sight or Prolonged Fight?<\/strong><\/p>\n President Trump has offered conflicting signals. In recent statements and press interactions, he described the campaign as \u201cvery far ahead of schedule\u201d and predicted an end \u201cvery soon\u201d\u2014even suggesting within days or this week. He emphasized mutual decision-making with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on timing.<\/p>\n Yet he maintains demands for Iran\u2019s \u201cunconditional surrender,\u201d regime change elements, and vows harsher action if oil routes are threatened. Critics, including former officials, question coherence in rationales\u2014shifting from nuclear threats and protester killings to broader regime aggression and \u201cliberation.\u201d Reports also highlight concerns over U.S. military rhetoric invoking religious framing, with some commanders allegedly portraying the conflict in apocalyptic terms.<\/p>\n Broader Implications and No End in Sight?<\/strong><\/p>\n Despite Trump\u2019s optimism, de-escalation appears distant. Iran shows no signs of backing down, with its new leadership defiant and proxies active. Civilian casualties mount on all sides, humanitarian concerns rise, and diplomatic channels remain frozen.<\/p>\n The war has already reshaped alliances, boosted global arms flows, and exacerbated migration pressures. For now, the world watches a high-stakes standoff: a superpower-led campaign claiming dominance versus a resilient adversary controlling a vital global artery. Whether Trump\u2019s \u201cvery soon\u201d proves prophetic or prelude to deeper entanglement remains the defining question of March 2026.<\/p>\n Juba Global News Network will continue monitoring developments. Stay informed at JubaGlobal.com<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Sources: Aggregated from Al Jazeera, NPR, NBC News, CNN, BBC, Reuters, and maritime tracking analyses as of March 10, 2026.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" By Juba Global News Network | JubaGlobal.comMarch 10, 2026 The conflict between the United States, Israel, and Iran\u2014now entering its 11th day\u2014has rapidly e<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1199,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[830,643,1,784,806],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6758","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-breaking-news","category-more-articles","category-news","category-northamerica","category-united-states"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/directtopic.com\/jubaglobal.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6758","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/directtopic.com\/jubaglobal.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/directtopic.com\/jubaglobal.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/directtopic.com\/jubaglobal.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1199"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/directtopic.com\/jubaglobal.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6758"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/directtopic.com\/jubaglobal.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6758\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":22200,"href":"https:\/\/directtopic.com\/jubaglobal.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6758\/revisions\/22200"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/directtopic.com\/jubaglobal.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6758"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/directtopic.com\/jubaglobal.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6758"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/directtopic.com\/jubaglobal.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6758"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}![\"\"](\"https:\/\/directtopic.com\/jubaglobal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1977\/2026\/03\/IMG_3681.jpeg\")
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The conflict between the United States, Israel, and Iran\u2014now entering its 11th day\u2014has rapidly evolved into one of the most significant geopolitical crises of the 21st century. What began as coordinated airstrikes on February 28, 2026, under the U.S.-led Operation Epic Fury<\/strong>, has expanded into sustained military engagements, leadership upheaval in Tehran, threats to global energy security, and volatile economic fallout. President Donald Trump\u2019s mixed messaging\u2014claiming the operation is \u201cvery complete\u201d and could end \u201cvery soon\u201d while issuing stark warnings of far harsher retaliation\u2014has kept the world on edge.<\/p>\n