Iran targets Dubai airport and commercial ships while former negotiator reveals US was 'not seeking agreement' in pre-war talks.
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Iran dramatically escalated attacks on civilian infrastructure across the Gulf Wednesday, striking commercial ships and targeting Dubai's international airport as oil prices surged above $100 per barrel. The attacks occurred as US and Israeli warplanes launched new strikes in what Iran threatens will be a prolonged "war of attrition." More than two-thirds of Iran's recent attacks have targeted the UAE, with Dubai facing an existential threat as foreigners flee the global financial hub.
The escalation comes amid revelations that US-Iran diplomatic efforts collapsed before the current conflict began. According to Iranian reformist activist Saeed Laylaz, Ali Larijani, secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, told experts in September that US negotiators led by Steve Witkoff were not genuinely seeking an agreement despite Iranian concessions.
Dubai's status as a center of international tourism and finance hangs in the balance as infrastructure attacks intensify. Oil markets have responded with sharp price increases, reflecting concerns about supply disruptions and broader regional stability. The targeting of civilian airports and commercial shipping represents a significant escalation in Iran's tactics.
The conflict threatens to reshape Middle East dynamics and global energy markets. US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has previously expressed "extreme antipathy" toward Iran, suggesting limited appetite for de-escalation. Meanwhile, parallel tensions emerge as US Navy patrols in the Taiwan Strait trigger Chinese military responses ahead of a planned Xi-Trump summit.