Explosions Add to Uncertainty
The situation grew more volatile after two explosions struck southern Iran, one in the port city of Bandar Abbas and another in Ahvaz. Several people were killed. The Revolutionary Guard denied reports that a senior naval commander had died in the blasts, while Israel rejected any involvement.
Growing Pressure on Tehran From Within
Amid the external pressure, criticism from inside Iran continued to surface. Faezeh Hashemi Rafsanjani, daughter of a former Iranian president, said the political system must respond to public demands if it wants to survive. In remarks circulated online, she said internal reform — not foreign intervention — remains the only path forward.
As warships move closer and rhetoric hardens on all sides, regional actors are racing to contain a crisis that many fear could spiral far beyond diplomatic control.
