The US and Iran exchange tough signals, peaceful negotiations still have no progress, the situation in the Middle East continues to escalate, pushing up oil prices.

In recent days, the United States and Iran continue to send strong signals, with both sides unwilling to return to the negotiating table. The Middle East conflict has escalated continuously in the second week, with concerns about further deterioration of the regional situation growing. On Wednesday, US President Trump said that Iran would pay a heavy price for the death of 4 American soldiers in the past week. He had previously warned on social media that if the Iranian military fired at ships in the Strait of Hormuz, the US would bomb a bridge or power plant near Tehran at any time. At the same time, Iran has also responded with a tough stance. Iranian Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni recently visited Pakistan. Pakistan and Qatar have been important mediators in the US-Iran conflict in the past five months, but this visit did not show any signs of the two sides restarting negotiations. An Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson stated that there are currently no negotiations, only information exchange is possible. He said that the new information Iran has conveyed to the US is that the US has violated the interim peace memorandum reached on June 17 and should first fulfill relevant commitments. Reports indicate that if the US attacks Iranian bridges or power facilities, Iran will strike back at infrastructure in the region, including American energy facilities. In terms of military actions, the US has further expanded its airstrikes. Iranian media reported that the US military conducted nighttime airstrikes on a military facility near Darulister in northwest Iran, the first attack in the region since the conflict escalated two weeks ago. In addition, Tehran activated its air defense systems early Wednesday. Local media reported that the US also carried out airstrikes near Abdanan and Chovar in the western region near the Iraqi border. This is the 11th consecutive day of US military strikes against Iran. In response, Iran once again launched attacks on US military bases in Kuwait, Bahrain, and Jordan. The escalating conflict has further impacted the global energy market. Over the past two weeks, international oil prices have risen significantly, with London Brent crude futures rising by 2.9% on Wednesday, approaching $94 per barrel. Prices of European diesel and other refined oil products have also continued to rise. The bond market has also been affected. Due to market concerns that rising energy prices may push up inflation again, the yields on US 10-year and 30-year Treasury bonds have risen to around a two-month high, with investors worrying that the Federal Reserve may reconsider raising interest rates as a result. The US has stated that it will continue to strengthen its airstrikes until Iran reopens the Strait of Hormuz and stops attacking energy transport and other commercial ships. However, Iran has not shown any signs of compromise. Tehran insists on continuing to control shipping in the Strait of Hormuz and states that this issue is also hindering progress in negotiations on other contentious issues, including the Iranian nuclear program. At the same time, Iran-backed Houthi forces in Yemen have threatened to expand the scope of the conflict, warning that commercial ships heading to Saudi ports may be targeted for attacks. The Joint Maritime Information Center, a global maritime security monitoring organization, stated that the Houthis currently have the capability to launch maritime attacks near the southern end of the Red Sea, around the Mandeb Strait. Trump stated that US military actions have significantly weakened Iran's military capabilities, but Iran continues to attack ships in the Strait of Hormuz and has caused significant losses to US troops and military bases in the Middle East. The US Department of Defense confirmed on Tuesday that a 28-year-old US Army sergeant who had previously gone missing was killed in an attack at a Jordanian airbase last Friday, bringing the number of US military deaths in the past week to 4, with two others killed in Jordan and one in a northern Iraq attack. On Wednesday, Trump went to Dover Air Force Base in Delaware to welcome the return of the bodies of some fallen soldiers. Iran has stated that the US airstrikes over the past 11 days have resulted in over 50 deaths and over 500 injuries. Trump also stated that Iran is "likely" trying to influence the US midterm elections in November by attacking the Strait of Hormuz, as such actions have driven up domestic gasoline prices in the US. He also hinted that the US may conduct strikes on the Pickaxe Mountain facility, which is believed to be related to Iran's nuclear program. In response, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei stated that the claims surrounding Pickaxe Mountain are merely "pretexts for aggression." The Iranian military also warned that if the US steps foot on Iranian soil, it will face comprehensive resistance from the Iranian people. US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stated on Tuesday before the Senate that the current military operations have cost approximately $37.5 billion. He also called on Congress to approve a $67 billion defense supplemental budget to support future military operations.