The Newsmakers15
As the Strait of Hormuz deadline looms, Iran has called on its youth to mobilise nationwide and protect its infrastructure. Earlier, Washington gave Tehran time until Tuesday night/Wednesday morning to reopen the key waterway, threatening to ‘bomb Iran back to stone age’ if it does not comply. Escalating tensions further, the US president now warns that a ‘whole civilisation will die tonight’.
Meanwhile, Pakistani-led mediation efforts aimed at ending the hostilities are still underway, yet they have failed to bring any major breakthrough so far. Where is this dangerous escalation heading? And as the deadline for Iran to reopen the strait approaches, could further confrontation still be avoided?
