Amid War Tensions, Trump Applies Business Strategy, Plans to Extract Payments from Gulf Nations
The wave of attacks in the region shows no sign of slowing, with Hezbollah reportedly carrying out strikes at multiple locations. As tensions escalate across the Middle East, the intensity of the conflict and the scale of the attacks continue to grow. In a major development, the United States has reportedly carried out strikes on Iran using 2,000-pound (over 900 kg) bombs. The targeted area is believed to include significant strategic sites, such as the Natanz Nuclear Facility, one of Iran’s key nuclear centers, along with several military bases. The strikes have further intensified fears of a wider conflict in the region.
More than a month has passed since the war involving Iran began, and the conflict continues to intensify. Now, Donald Trump is reportedly attempting to approach the situation with a business-minded strategy rather than purely political leadership. The United States has already spent nearly $35 billion on the war effort, and reports suggest that Washington may look to Gulf nations to help cover some of these costs. According to statements from the White House, the U.S. administration believes that protecting regional allies should also involve financial contributions from those countries. Pentagon estimates indicate that the war is costing more than $1 billion per day, while the U.S. has also suffered losses involving fighter jets, radar systems, and AWACS surveillance aircraft. Reports suggest that Washington may seek financial support from countries such as Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Iraq, and Qatar.
Meanwhile, intense military activity has been reported in South Lebanon, where the Israel Defense Forces have reportedly carried out heavy strikes on positions linked to Hezbollah. Images emerging from the area show large-scale destruction, thick plumes of smoke, and significant damage to targeted locations as attacks continue across multiple sites. As tensions across the Middle East escalate, the scale and intensity of the strikes are increasing.
In another major development, the United States has reportedly struck Iranian strategic locations using 2,000-pound (over 900 kg) bunker-buster bombs. These strikes are believed to have targeted areas containing major facilities such as the Natanz Nuclear Facility along with several military bases. The objective of the attack was reportedly to weaken Iran’s military capabilities by destroying weapons depots and fortified installations. Explosions from the strikes were reportedly powerful enough to be heard across large distances. President Donald Trump also shared images related to the operation on his social media account, after warning Iran a day earlier that stronger attacks could follow if tensions continued to escalate.
At the same time, the enormous cost of the war has sparked criticism within the United States. Some reports claim that Pete Hegseth, the U.S. Defense Secretary, faced allegations of attempting to profit from the conflict through investments in defense-related exchange-traded funds linked to companies such as BlackRock. According to media reports, the investments were allegedly planned through a broker based on expectations that defense companies’ stocks could rise during wartime due to increased military production. However, the Pentagon has strongly rejected these claims, calling them completely false and fabricated. Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell stated that neither Secretary Hegseth nor any representative from his office had contacted BlackRock regarding such investments.
The humanitarian cost of the conflict is also becoming clearer. According to a report by the Iranian Red Crescent Society, the war has caused widespread destruction in Iran, with around 90,000 homes destroyed, more than 300 health centers severely damaged, and approximately 760 schools affected.
In a separate incident, an Iranian drone reportedly struck a Kuwaiti oil tanker near Jebel Ali Port in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The tanker, which was carrying around two million barrels of oil, sustained damage to its outer structure. A fire broke out following the attack but was later brought under control. The incident has further raised concerns about the safety of critical energy infrastructure in the region as the conflict continues to escalate.