U.S.-Iran Conflict Intensifies with Mass Missile Waves and Rising Economic Costs

The conflict between the United States and Iran has entered a phase of high-intensity attrition, with the U.S. reporting expenditures exceeding $11 billion in the first week of operations. Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has released footage of its 40th missile wave, targeting regional partners including Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE. In response, U.S. Central Command has begun deploying low-cost, reverse-engineered drones modeled after Iranian designs to adapt to proxy tactics. On the diplomatic and domestic front, President Donald Trump reiterated claims of an impending victory from Florida, even as experts warn that the sustained missile barrages from Iran and Hezbollah are stretching U.S. economic resources. In the U.S., officials have moved to downplay an FBI memo regarding potential Iranian threats in California, seeking to de-escalate West Coast security concerns. Global energy markets have remained unexpectedly stable despite the escalation. Oil futures are currently trading below $100 per barrel, as traders seem to be pricing in a short-lived conflict. However, the S&P 500 saw a 0.8% drop as investors weigh the long-term impact of potential disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz and the mounting humanitarian toll, which has already seen millions in Israel forced into shelters.