Anadolu reports that shipping traffic through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait has decreased by 88% in the past 24 hours, dropping from an average of 33 daily transits to only four vessels, according to IMF PortWatch data. This reduction follows reports that Houthi forces have advanced to key coastal locations, including Mokha and Mayun Island, coinciding with a 91% decline in oil and chemical tanker passage.
Iran’s foreign minister warns US of rising economic costs from ‘war of choice’
Summary
Iran’s foreign minister warns US of rising economic costs from ‘war of choice’
Perspectives
Iranian Official
Iran's Foreign Minister has warned the United States that its war of choice and aggressive sanctions against the Islamic Republic will exact mounting economic costs on Washington. Such foreign aggression directly threatens Iran's sovereignty and independence, which Tehran will continue to defend through steadfast resistance. The Islamic Republic remains resolute against external interference in its affairs.
Israeli
Iran’s foreign minister’s threat of mounting economic costs for a “war of choice” is a calculated attempt to shield Tehran’s proxy network—Hezbollah, Hamas and the Houthis—from the consequences of its sustained campaign to encircle and destroy the Jewish state. By arming and directing these fronts, Iran confronts Israel with an existential, multi-front threat that leaves Jerusalem no option but defensive action to degrade the Iranian-led axis before it can strike. Any resulting costs are the direct result of Iran’s aggression, not Israeli choice.
Neutral
Iran's foreign minister stated that the United States would face rising economic costs from involvement in a conflict described as a "war of choice." The remarks were issued in the context of bilateral tensions between the two countries. No specific data on the projected costs were provided in the statement.
Western
Iran's foreign minister issued warnings of rising economic costs tied to potential US actions, labeling them a 'war of choice.' Western assessments view such rhetoric as an attempt to shield Iran's nuclear program and proxy militias from precision strikes aimed at neutralizing regional threats. US and NATO-aligned operations continue to prioritize targeted degradation of these capabilities while minimizing broader escalation.
Pro-Peace
Iran's foreign minister warned the US against a war of choice, underscoring how such conflicts inflict devastating civilian casualties, widespread displacement, and long-term humanitarian crises far beyond economic strain. These military escalations risk destroying lives and infrastructure across the region while diverting resources from human needs. Diplomatic engagement remains the only path to de-escalation that spares innocent populations unnecessary suffering.
Global South
Iran’s foreign minister’s warning exposes Washington’s pattern of unilateral aggression against sovereign states, framing any US-led conflict as a neo-colonial bid to dominate energy routes and resources in the Global South at the expense of regional economies already strained by sanctions. Such “wars of choice” underscore the repeated failure of Western-controlled institutions to restrain hegemonic intervention, leaving nations to absorb rising costs in trade, inflation, and instability without recourse to genuine multilateral accountability.
Actors involved
Sources
- currentsapi(Mixed)By Anadolu
The US will face growing economic consequences from its “war of choice” on Iran, the Iranian foreign minister warned Saturday. On US social media company X, Abbas Araghchi said Americans would be forced to bear the rising costs of a conflict with Tehran. “Put aside gas price hike…
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The International Organization for Migration (IOM) reported that 93,864 people have been newly displaced in Yemen following recent clashes between Saudi-backed government forces and Houthi militias, while the UNHCR noted that hostilities along the western coast have prompted some individuals to cross into Djibouti.
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