Fears Iran war could escalate after return to military strikes | BBC News

Hello, I'm Martine Croxall. This is the Iran War Today, bringing you up to date with all you need to know about the U.S.-Israel war with Iran.

Let's start with some of today's key developments. After a week which saw a return to U.S.

military strikes in Iran and retaliations by Tehran, people across the region ask where things might go next as America's Vice President refuses to put a timeline on when the war might end.

In Yemen, more than 120 people are reported to have been killed in fresh clashes between Iran-backed Houthis and government forces supported by Saudi Arabia.

The price of diesel hits a record high in North America as the impacts of the war continue to limit fuel supplies and push up prices.

And after a brief meeting between the presidents of Iran and China earlier this week is U.S.

pressure and the months-long war affecting ties between the longtime partners.

Well, after the U.S. return to striking Iran, there's deep uncertainty within the country about where the war might go next.

Donald Trump has warned American forces could hit Iran anytime we want after a series of strikes earlier this week.

And Vice President J.D. Vance refused to lay out a timeline for when the conflict might finish, saying an end to the war was based on whether Tehran stopped targeting ships in the Strait of Hormuz.

After a deadly strike hit a wedding in southern Iran, one hardline Iranian cleric has accused the U.S.

of waging what he called a cowardly and vile war. Four people are known to have been killed in Kuharstak, the Iranian Red Crescent Society says an American missile hit a family wedding ceremony.

The US is investigating, but J.D. Vance says they never target civilians.

Meanwhile, economic pressure continues to build on Iran, and the US Treasury is issuing new sanctions, this time targeting a Turkish bank over alleged ties to Tehran.

With us now is Taranif Atalian from our Persian language service, BBC Persian.

What is the feeling like then in Iran this week with those U.S. military strikes starting again.

And we've also seen retaliations, of course. Where do people think this war is going to go?

Well, there are what people think and what the regime is, what the message that the regime is trying to convey to the world and to the U.S.

And that is that the Iranian Islamic Republic of Iran is not backing down.

They are ready for conflict and they still have the upper hand.

This is in fact what one of the top military officials said today, said that we are prepared for any conflict today or tomorrow and said that the threat is not over yet.

On the other side of things, there are people who are mourning those who have lost in the war.

The death The total of the Kuhezak explosion has risen to five now.

Just before I came here, it was confirmed that a lady has died as well from the injuries.

On the social media, a lot of people are concerned as well as upset.

They have their eyes on the sky for any potential airstrikes while trying to maintain a somewhat normal life.

This is like a no war, no peace situation and no one really knows what's happening.

What they know is that they are feeling the effects of the war. They're feeling the economic effects.

They're feeling the isolation and they are worried about an escalation, a possible escalation

and tension and a possible full-scale war.

So there is a bit of uncertainty, but people are trying to maintain a normal lifestyle.

I'm seeing on social media people living their lives while still being concerned about the impacts,

the further impacts of war and a possible escalation. Taraneh, good to see you. Thank you very much, Taraneh Fatalian from BBC Persian.

Well, elsewhere, fresh fighting has broken out in Yemen, between the Iranian-backed Houthis and government forces who are supported by Saudi Arabia.

At least 120 people are reported to have been killed.

The clashes began after the Houthis launched a ground assault to try to take control of the territory bordering the Bab al-Mandeb Strait in the Red Sea.

Iran supported these Houthis and they've been attacking Saudi ships which are using the waterway as an alternative to the Strait of Hormuz.

Well, the latest fighting is the deadliest in years in a civil war that started in 2014.

More than 150,000 people are reported to have died in the conflict

and the UN says more than 22 million people are in need of aid because of the war.

Diesel prices in North America have hit an all-time high after the US and Iran returned to trading strikes around the Strait of Hormuz.