Rising unrest in Iran and sharper U.S. military signaling created a tense regional standoff with economic, security, and diplomatic stakes.<br />President Trump ordered evacuations and naval repositioning as Iran protests escalated amid inflation and a plunging rial. Rights groups reported more than 2,600 deaths in 14 days, while Al Udeid Air Base evacuations and British withdrawals signaled preparation for possible Iranian retaliation.<br />Officials described ambiguous U.S. threats, reports of potential "surgical" strikes, and Iranian warnings against American bases in Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Turkey. Any disruption to the Strait of Hormuz, which moves about 20% of global oil, raised recession fears. With talks collapsed, the crisis shifted to the U.N. as Russia warned against strikes and China urged restraint.
