War with Iran escalates as markets reel and new drug threats emerge

The United States and Israel have been striking targets across Iran, including a weapons depot and a nuclear power plant, while President Trump issued a new ultimatum today: Iran has forty-eight hours to reopen the Strait of Hormuz or, as he put it on social media, "all hell will rain down." The threat comes as the search continues for a missing U.S. service member in Iran after Tehran shot down two American military planes yesterday.

The widening conflict and its targets

The strikes have hit a range of sites beyond obvious military infrastructure. Among the targets was the B1 bridge connecting the cities of Tehran and Karaj. In response, Iran released its own list of bridges in the region that it could destroy. A Red Crescent warehouse in Bushehr was also struck. Iranian media reported that the Azodi Sports Stadium in Tehran was hit, and that Shahid Beheshti University sustained damage.

The conflict has created a volatile energy crisis. NPR's Maria Aspen reported that oil prices have already soared, and some of the refineries and other infrastructure needed to produce more oil have been damaged, compounding the economic damage.

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