As US–Iran talks move forward, Israel’s vow to ‘expand attacks’ throws cold water on diplomacy

[The Financial News] Israel has issued an official warning that it will step up its military attacks on the Islamic Republic of Iran (Iran). At the same time, Iran is continuing missile and drone strikes, pushing the Middle East front rapidly toward a wider war.
On the 27th, Israel’s defense minister Israel Katz said in a statement, "If Iran does not stop launching missiles at Israeli civilian areas, our attacks will intensify and their scope will expand." He stressed that Israel could target not only Iran’s military facilities but also buildings involved in weapons production and support for the regime.
In fact, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) carried out airstrikes at dawn that targeted Iran’s ballistic missile and weapons production facilities, including locations in central Tehran. Missile launchers and storage facilities in western Iran were also hit.
Iran, however, is not backing down. The same day, it continued missile and drone attacks toward countries in the Persian Gulf region, triggering air-raid sirens in Bahrain, the State of Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). With both sides escalating their military actions, the intensity of the confrontation is rising in tandem.
This trajectory runs counter to the United States of America (US) efforts to negotiate an end to the conflict. US President Donald Trump claimed a day earlier that cease-fire talks were progressing smoothly and extended the deadline for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz to April 6, but on the ground the military clashes are instead widening.
The US has presented Iran with a 15-point cease-fire proposal that includes giving up control over the Strait of Hormuz. At the same time, Washington has ordered the deployment of thousands of additional troops to the Middle East, maintaining military pressure in parallel. This amounts to a dual-track strategy that pursues diplomacy and military measures simultaneously.
International oil prices and global financial markets are reacting immediately. As tensions rise around the Strait of Hormuz, a key chokepoint for global crude shipments, volatility in global markets is increasing. Analysts warn that the fallout from the war could spread beyond the Middle East to the broader global economy.

km@fnnews.com Kim Kyung-min Reporter