{"id":64645,"date":"2026-07-12T05:08:14","date_gmt":"2026-07-12T09:08:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/middle-east-conflict-escalates-as-us-strikes-iran-bangladesh-tests-nuclear-resilience\/64645\/"},"modified":"2026-07-12T05:08:14","modified_gmt":"2026-07-12T09:08:14","slug":"middle-east-conflict-escalates-as-us-strikes-iran-bangladesh-tests-nuclear-resilience","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/middle-east-conflict-escalates-as-us-strikes-iran-bangladesh-tests-nuclear-resilience\/64645\/","title":{"rendered":"Middle East Conflict Escalates as US Strikes Iran; Bangladesh Tests Nuclear Resilience"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2>Key Takeaways<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>US forces conducted their third round of strikes on Iran this week<\/strong>, targeting 140 military sites after the IRGC attacked a Cyprus-flagged container ship.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Tehran has declared the Strait of Hormuz closed &quot;until further notice,&quot;<\/strong> a move that has already spiked Brent crude prices by <strong>6% to $76.34\/bbl<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Iranian lawmakers issued direct threats against the White House<\/strong>, stating it is &quot;no longer safe&quot; for President Donald Trump following the killing of former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Bangladesh has begun fuel loading at its first nuclear plant<\/strong>, a $12.65 billion project designed to provide <strong>15% of the nation&#39;s electricity<\/strong> and mitigate fossil fuel shocks.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>US-Iran Hostilities Reach New Peak<\/h2>\n<p>The military confrontation between the United States and Iran intensified on Sunday as <strong>U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM)<\/strong> launched a massive wave of retaliatory strikes. The operation targeted approximately <strong>140 Iranian military sites<\/strong>, including drone launch pads, missile batteries, and coastal surveillance hubs. These strikes were a direct response to an attack by the <strong>Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)<\/strong> on the <em>M\/V GFS Galaxy<\/em>, a commercial vessel transiting the <strong>Strait of Hormuz<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>In a significant escalation of rhetoric, Iranian lawmaker <strong>Alaeddin Boroujerdi<\/strong> warned that the <strong>White House<\/strong> would &quot;no longer be safe&quot; for President <strong>Donald Trump (<a href=\"\/stock\/DJT\">DJT<\/a>)<\/strong>. Boroujerdi described the pursuit of revenge for the February killing of former Supreme Leader <strong>Ali Khamenei<\/strong> as an &quot;obligation&quot; for all followers. President Trump countered by threatening to &quot;decimate and destroy&quot; Iran if any attempt is made on his life, claiming <strong>1,000 missiles<\/strong> are currently locked and loaded.<\/p>\n<h2>Strait of Hormuz Closure Rattles Energy Markets<\/h2>\n<p>The IRGC\u2019s declaration that the <strong>Strait of Hormuz<\/strong> is closed &quot;until further notice&quot; has sent shockwaves through global energy markets. The waterway, which typically handles <strong>20% of the world&#39;s oil trade<\/strong>, is now at a near-standstill as vessel owners assess the risk of further missile attacks. <strong>Brent crude<\/strong> prices surged <strong>6%<\/strong> to end the week at <strong>$76.34\/bbl<\/strong>, while <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/stockmarketwatch.com\/energy\/crude-oil\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"12\" title=\"Crude oil\">West Texas Intermediate<\/a> (WTI)<\/strong> rose <strong>5%<\/strong> to <strong>$72.15\/bbl<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>Market analysts warn that a sustained blockade could push oil prices toward the <strong>$85-$90 range<\/strong>. The disruption is particularly acute for Asian importers, who have already begun implementing fuel rationing. To counter the blockade, the U.S. military has indicated it will continue degrading Iran\u2019s ability to attack civilian mariners to ensure the free flow of commerce.<\/p>\n<h2>Bangladesh Pivots to Nuclear Amid Regional Instability<\/h2>\n<p>Against the backdrop of the Middle East crisis, <strong>Bangladesh<\/strong> is moving forward with the commissioning of the <strong>Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant<\/strong>. The $12.65 billion facility, built with assistance from <strong>Rosatom<\/strong>, recently completed its first nuclear fuel loading. This project is a critical test of whether atomic power can provide energy security for developing economies vulnerable to the volatility of fossil fuel markets.<\/p>\n<p>Once fully operational in 2028, the two Russian-designed reactors are expected to supply <strong>15% of Bangladesh&#39;s total electricity<\/strong>. The government aims for this &quot;base-load&quot; power to stabilize the national grid, which has suffered from frequent blackouts during the ongoing Iran-US conflict. The success of the Rooppur plant is being closely watched by other emerging nations as a potential blueprint for decarbonization and energy independence.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Key Takeaways US forces conducted their third round of strikes on Iran this week, targeting 140 military sites after the 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