Israeli airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, Middle East situation escalates: Changes in the Strait of Hormuz, global markets experience severe fluctuations.

BlockBeats news, on March 28, the situation in the Middle East escalated last night and this morning. The Israeli Defense Forces confirmed that airstrikes have been launched against two key nuclear facilities within Iran, including the heavy water reactor in the central province of Khondab and the uranium enrichment plant in Yazd province, stating that this move aims to continuously weaken Iran’s nuclear capabilities. The Israeli military indicated that these facilities not only have the capacity to produce nuclear materials but are also significant economic assets for Iran. Previously, the heavy water reactor had already encountered an airstrike in June 2025.

In response, Iran has taken a hardline countermeasure. The Iranian Revolutionary Guard announced that the Strait of Hormuz has been closed, prohibiting vessels associated with the United States and Israel from passing, and several international cargo ships have turned back. Iran also warned that it might launch retaliatory strikes against industrial facilities in Israel and several countries in the region, while the Houthi forces stated they are prepared to intervene directly in the conflict under certain conditions.

Israel, on the other hand, has further signaled an escalation, with the Defense Minister stating that attacks on Iran will continue to expand, and operations have now been launched against targets across Tehran. The United States has maintained a relatively restrained stance, only stating that there are no plans for a ground invasion, but expects the conflict to last between 2 to 4 weeks. U.S. President Trump emphasized in a speech that Iran “must open the Strait of Hormuz,” mistakenly referring to it as the “Trump Strait” at one point.

Meanwhile, diplomatic undercurrents in the region are stirring. According to Reuters, Qatar, Oman, and Kuwait are privately mediating to promote a ceasefire, while Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Bahrain are preparing for an escalation of the conflict and have explicitly opposed Iran continuing to use the Strait as a bargaining chip.

Geopolitical risks are rapidly transmitting to global markets. Due to concerns over Middle Eastern supply, crude oil prices have returned above $100, spot gold has bounced back to the $4500 level, and the premium on LME near-term aluminum contracts has reached a historic high. U.S. stocks are under pressure, with the Nasdaq falling into a technical correction zone from its highs, and all three major stock indices have generally refreshed their recent lows.

Uncertainties are also emerging on the macro and policy fronts: Fitch has maintained Israel’s “A” rating but with a negative outlook; the U.S. Congress has fallen into another deadlock over funding for the Department of Homeland Security, increasing the risk of a government shutdown; Russia announced a ban on gasoline exports starting in April, which could further disrupt the energy supply landscape.

Currently, it seems that the conflict in the Middle East has rapidly evolved from “localized strikes” to a high-risk phase of “regional games + global market linkage,” with the lifeline of energy transport and commodity prices becoming core variables, and the future trajectory of the situation remains highly uncertain.