U.S.-Iran Conflict Enters Third Week Amid Stalled Diplomacy and Heightened Travel Risks

As the conflict between the United States and Iran enters its third week, military and diplomatic developments have reached a temporary plateau, while economic and humanitarian pressures continue to mount. According to U.S. officials, approximately 15,000 targets have been struck since the onset of the war. Despite the high volume of strikes, the Strait of Hormuz remains effectively closed by Iranian forces, a move that continues to disrupt roughly 20% of the world's traded oil and place immense pressure on global energy markets. On the humanitarian front, the U.S. Embassy in Iran issued an updated security alert on March 14, warning of increasingly restrictive measures for those attempting to flee the country. U.S.-Iranian dual nationals are now reportedly required to use Iranian passports to exit and may face 'exit fees' or outright blocks on departure. These developments coincide with fresh threats from Iranian military spokespersons at the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, who stated that any regional energy infrastructure with American ties or cooperation could be targeted for future strikes. While joint U.S.-Israeli operations on March 13 focused on degrading Iran's internal security and repressive capabilities, there have been no reports of new cyber warfare or proxy escalations in the last 24 hours. Regional allies such as the UAE remain under verbal threat from Iranian military commands, though no new incidents or diplomatic shifts have been confirmed since the initial expulsion of U.S. forces from certain Gulf bases.