Iran Threatens Financial Centers as U.S. Intensifies Air Campaign

Iran has signaled a significant escalation in its strategic targeting, with the central operational command, Khatam Al-Anbiya, vowing to strike U.S. and Israeli economic centers, banks, and technology giants. This shift toward economic warfare comes as regional Gulf allies, including Saudi Arabia and Bahrain, face critical shortages of missile interceptors. Saudi Arabia reported intercepting drones over the Shaybah oil field, while Bahrain has urged residents to remain indoors following attacks on fuel infrastructure. In Washington, President Trump informed reporters on Wednesday that he expects the conflict to reach a resolution "very, very quickly." The President claimed that U.S. forces neutralized the majority of Iran's mine-laying vessels in a single night of operations. Meanwhile, the Pentagon confirmed that U.S. Central Command has struck over 5,500 targets inside Iran, including more than 60 ships. These "strike waves" are being coordinated through advanced AI tools to accelerate decision-making processes. Amid the heavy bombardment, a U.S. military investigation documented a targeting error in which a Tomahawk missile struck an Iranian elementary school. When questioned about the incident on Wednesday, President Trump stated he had no knowledge of the report. The U.S. is currently attempting to organize a task force to expedite defensive supplies to Gulf allies, though officials acknowledge the effort is moving slower than local demands require.