As a US deadline for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz approached on April 7, 2026, Tehran rejected a temporary ceasefire and the region braced for possible escalation. Washington said the strait must be reopened or it could strike bridges, power plants and other infrastructure; Iran insisted fighting would not pause without a permanent end to the war.
Explosions were reported on Kharg Island, Iran’s main oil export terminal, according to the semi‑official Mehr news agency; US forces had struck the island in mid‑March. Concerns about supply disruptions pushed oil prices sharply higher, with Brent trading above $111 a barrel and US West Texas Intermediate near $115 — more than a 50% rise since the conflict began — as traders feared further attacks or reprisals.
Tehran dismissed a Pakistan‑brokered 45‑day ceasefire proposal, saying a temporary pause was insufficient. State media said Iran’s reply laid out 10 conditions that included sanctions relief, reconstruction aid and formal guarantees for safe passage through the strait. President Donald Trump warned Iran it could be “taken out in one night” if it did not comply, threatening widespread strikes by early Wednesday. UN Secretary‑General António Guterres warned that targeting civilian infrastructure would violate international law.
Security incidents and warnings multiplied across the region. A gunbattle outside the building that houses the Israeli consulate in Istanbul left at least two attackers dead and one wounded and injured a police officer. In Saudi Arabia, overnight strikes reportedly set fire to a major petrochemical complex in Jubail — home to plants operated by SABIC — and forced evacuations; Iran’s semi‑official Fars agency said petrochemical facilities were targeted.
Israel’s military advised Iranians to avoid train travel and stay away from railway lines until 9 p.m. local time, saying being on or near trains could put civilians at risk. Iran has restricted internet access for weeks, limiting the domestic circulation of such advisories, though Persian satellite channels relayed the warnings.
European officials and industry groups warned of wider economic fallout. France’s foreign minister said strikes on civilian or energy infrastructure would almost certainly provoke reprisals and drive fuel prices higher. The German‑Russian Foreign Trade Chamber in Moscow said the practical closure of the Strait of Hormuz had delivered an unexpected windfall to Russia, boosting revenues from oil, gas and fertilizer exports by billions and potentially creating funds that could be used to support its war in Ukraine.
With diplomacy stalled and military warnings intensifying, officials and markets monitored the approaching deadline closely. Many analysts warned that strikes on infrastructure could deepen a regional conflict and inflict broader damage on the global economy.