U.S. Intensifies Maritime Interdiction and Air Strikes Against Iran

The military confrontation between the United States and Iran escalated further over the last 24 hours as Washington shifted toward a strategy of energy interdiction. U.S. forces disabled an oil tanker in the Gulf of Oman for allegedly violating a blockade on Iranian oil exports, marking the second consecutive day of such maritime actions. President Trump defended the ongoing air campaign, which continued into Wednesday evening, stating that Iran must \"pay the price\" and reiterating his administration's stance that Tehran will never be permitted to obtain a nuclear weapon. While the U.S. military labels the strikes as self-defense, the administration is reportedly considering widening its target set to include civilian infrastructure, such as power plants and bridges. This escalation occurs despite President Trump’s claims that the two nations were recently in the \"final throes\" of a potential diplomatic breakthrough. Iran has responded with its own regional displays of force, with the Revolutionary Guards claiming strikes on a U.S. base in Jordan and warning of a decisive response to any further American incursions. The intensifying conflict is also triggering a significant constitutional debate in Washington. As the White House reinforces its military posture, the U.S. House and Senate have advanced war powers resolutions aimed at limiting executive authority to conduct unauthorized strikes. Domestic pressure is mounting as the administration balances maritime enforcement, regional proxy threats, and the stated goal of preventing Iranian nuclear enrichment.