The U.S. has bombed Iranian nuclear facilities and steel mills again! Several countries in the Persian Gulf have faced retaliation, Brent crude oil surged to $106, and Bitcoin reached $66,000.

The US-Israeli coalition bombed Iranian nuclear facilities and two major steel mills on Friday, prompting Tehran to immediately retaliate against several countries in the Persian Gulf, resulting in damage to Kuwaiti ports and casualties reported in Tel Aviv. Brent crude oil surpassed $106, while Bitcoin returned to $66,000.
(Background: Reports suggest Iran may formally respond to the US’s “15-point peace plan” by Friday, is there a glimmer of hope for US-Iran negotiations?)
(Background Supplement: Reuters: US intelligence confirms “only one-third of Iran’s missiles were destroyed,” is the vast arsenal still a threat?)

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• Targets: Nuclear facilities, heavy water reactors, two largest steel mills
• Iran’s retaliation in the Persian Gulf: Kuwait, Doha, Tel Aviv
• Trump: “There are still 3,554 targets left,” the Pentagon plans to increase troop levels by 10,000

The US-Israeli coalition launched another airstrike on Iran on Friday, and Tehran immediately retaliated with drones and missiles against several neighboring countries in the Persian Gulf. The financial markets also reacted: Brent crude oil surpassed $106 this morning, rising over 6% in the past 24 hours; Bitcoin, which dipped to nearly $65,500 at midnight, is currently reported at $66,185.

Regarding the US stock market, Friday’s performance was also poor:

• The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell by 1.73%
• The S&P 500 Index fell by 1.67%
• The Nasdaq Index fell by 2.15%
• The Philadelphia Semiconductor Index fell by 1.69%

Targets: Nuclear facilities, heavy water reactors, two largest steel mills

Iranian state media confirmed that multiple targets were hit in this wave of airstrikes: a heavy water research reactor at the Arak nuclear facility, a nuclear material plant in Yazd Province, and Iran’s two largest steel mills.

The Arak heavy water reactor has long been viewed as a key node in Iran’s nuclear weapon potential; following the attack on the Natanz nuclear facility on March 21, Iran’s nuclear infrastructure has been severely damaged once again.

Iran’s retaliation in the Persian Gulf: Kuwait, Doha, Tel Aviv

Tehran’s retaliation was almost immediate, with a range covering the entire Persian Gulf.

Iran launched numerous drones and missiles at several neighboring countries, damaging two Kuwaiti ports and triggering missile alarms in downtown Doha. In Israel, Tel Aviv was attacked by Iranian missiles on Friday night, resulting in one fatality.

According to reports from The Wall Street Journal and the Associated Press, a US military base in Saudi Arabia was also affected, with several US soldiers injured. Iranian authorities have specifically threatened to launch the next wave of retaliation against steel mills within Israel and across the Persian Gulf region.

Trump: “There are still 3,554 targets left,” the Pentagon plans to increase troop levels by 10,000

US President Trump stated to reporters in Miami on Friday, “They (Iran) are talking, they want to make a deal. Iran has been crippled.” Later, at another event, he further revealed, “We have 3,554 targets left, and we will deal with them soon.”

Meanwhile, reports indicate that the US Department of Defense is considering deploying up to 10,000 additional personnel to the Middle East, joining the 5,000 Marines and 1,000 paratroopers already stationed there. Secretary of State Rubio stated that the US “can achieve all objectives without ground troops,” but emphasized maintaining maximum flexibility.

Notably, a spokesman for the Houthi organization in Yemen explicitly warned that if any country joins the US-Israeli effort or if the Red Sea is used against Iran, they are prepared for direct military intervention.