Overview
- China condemned the plan as coercive and said it would take all necessary measures to defend its interests.
- White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said diplomacy remains the priority even as airstrikes are among the options under review.
- Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said communications with US envoy Steve Witkoff are ongoing.
- Analysts warned the threat could affect major partners such as China, India, the EU, Turkey, the UAE and Russia, and could unsettle the recent US–China trade truce.
- Rights groups reported hundreds of deaths and thousands of arrests during Iran’s protests, with observers cautioning about risks to oil and broader trade flows.