US and Iran Exchange Missile Barrages as Hopes for a Quick Resolution Fade

Hopes of a rapid end to the five-month conflict between the United States and Iran are fading as both sides trade blows in a renewed wave of missile attacks. After a brief respite had raised hopes that diplomacy might be gaining momentum, the fighting has flared up again, threatening to draw in more countries and further destabilize an already fragile region.

Iran launched missiles toward Jordan for the second consecutive day, although Jordanian air defenses shot down five of them. Kuwait, another US ally that hosts American troops, reported that an Iranian strike killed a worker at a Chinese company's building. Meanwhile, drones caused fires aboard two vessels at an Egyptian port, while Saudi Arabia accused Iran-backed militias in Iraq of attacking its energy infrastructure.

The United States has also stepped up its military campaign. After an Iranian missile attack on a US base in Jordan, American forces carried out a major wave of strikes against Iranian military facilities, including Revolutionary Guard command centers, missile and drone installations, and coastal defense sites. Iran reported casualties following a separate US strike on Qeshm Island, near the Strait of Hormuz.

The escalation has raised fears that the conflict could spiral into an all-out regional war. Jordan, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt are all increasingly exposed to the consequences despite having different relationships with Washington and Tehran. If further attacks occur on their territory or infrastructure, they could be pulled into the conflict more directly.

Diplomatic efforts have not completely collapsed, however. Pakistan, which previously helped broker an interim agreement, says negotiations are continuing with the aim of bringing about a reduction in hostilities and reopening the Strait of Hormuz. The waterway is crucial to the global economy because roughly one-fifth of the world's oil and natural-gas shipments passed through it during peacetime.

The conflict has already hit hard at the global economy. Energy shipments through the strait have nearly ground to a halt, pushing up fuel prices and increasing the cost of basic goods. Further attacks on energy infrastructure could intensify shortages and place additional pressure on governments around the world.

Saudi Arabia is particularly vulnerable. The Houthis in Yemen have threatened Saudi shipping and attacked energy facilities, while Iran-backed Iraqi militias have also been accused of targeting Saudi infrastructure. Riyadh has now joined Washington in strikes against the Iraqi groups, signaling that it will not simply stand by while its energy sector comes under attack.

At the same time, Saudi leaders have emphasized that they want the conflict to wind down and that Washington and Tehran should return to negotiations. Their position reflects the broader dilemma facing regional governments: they may need to respond militarily to attacks while simultaneously trying to prevent the conflict from expanding.

For now, the cycle of retaliation continues. Unless the United States and Iran can back away from further escalation and return to serious negotiations.

War-Related Phrasal Verbs

Phrasal verb	Definition	Example
trade blows	Exchange attacks or retaliatory actions	The two sides continued to trade blows despite calls for a ceasefire.
flare up	Suddenly become more intense after a quieter period	Fighting flared up again after several days of relative calm.
draw in	Cause another person or country to become involved	The attack could draw neighboring countries into the war.
shoot down	Destroy an aircraft or missile while it is in the air	The defense system shot down several incoming missiles.
step up	Increase the intensity or scale of an action	The military stepped up its attacks after the ceasefire collapsed.
carry out	Perform or execute an attack or military operation	The air force carried out a series of strikes overnight.
spiral into	Develop rapidly into a much worse situation	A border dispute could spiral into a regional war.
pull into	Cause someone to become involved in a conflict	The attacks threatened to pull neighboring states into the fighting.
bring about	Cause something to happen	Diplomacy may eventually bring about a lasting ceasefire.
stand by	Remain passive instead of taking action	The government refused to stand by while its territory was attacked.

Glossary

respite

Definition: A short period of relief or reduced difficulty following a difficult situation.Example: The temporary respite from fighting gave diplomats an opportunity to negotiate.

barrage

Definition: A concentrated and sustained attack, especially involving missiles, artillery, or other weapons.Example: The city came under a barrage of missiles overnight.

retaliation

Definition: An attack or other action taken in response to an earlier attack.Example: The government launched the strikes in retaliation for the attack on its military base.

escalation

Definition: An increase in the seriousness, intensity, or scale of a conflict.Example: Diplomats warned that further escalation could trigger a regional war.

hostilities

Definition: Acts of warfare or fighting between opposing sides.Example: Both governments agreed that the immediate priority was to halt hostilities.

infrastructure

Definition: The fundamental physical systems and facilities that a society or economy depends on.Example: The attacks damaged critical energy infrastructure.

proxy

Definition: A group or organization that acts on behalf of another, usually more powerful, actor.Example: Iran has historically supported several armed groups that operate as regional proxies.

de-escalation

Definition: The reduction of tension or violence between opposing sides.Example: The Saudi government called for immediate de-escalation.

interim

Definition: Temporary and intended to remain in place until a permanent solution is reached.Example: The countries agreed to an interim ceasefire while negotiations continued.

wreak havoc

Definition: Cause extensive damage, disruption, or confusion.Example: The conflict has wreaked havoc on regional energy markets.

Worksheet

Part A — Complete the Sentences

Use the correct phrasal verb.

trade blows · flare up · draw in · shoot down · step up · carry out · spiral into · bring about · stand by · wind down

1. After several weeks of relative calm, fighting suddenly __________ again.

2. The two countries continued to __________ despite international pressure to negotiate.

3. The military decided to __________ its air campaign after the attack.

4. The defense system managed to __________ several incoming missiles.

5. The conflict could __________ neighboring countries if attacks continue.

6. The government refused to __________ while its oil facilities were attacked.

7. Diplomats hope negotiations can __________ a lasting ceasefire.

8. The military __________ several strikes against enemy positions.

9. A limited confrontation could __________ a much larger regional war.

10. Both sides eventually agreed that the fighting needed to __________.

Discussion Questions — Conditionals

1. If the United States and Iran returned to negotiations immediately, what issues would they need to resolve first?

2. If the Strait of Hormuz remained closed for several more months, how might this affect ordinary people around the world?

3. If Saudi Arabia continued participating in US military operations, how might Iran respond?

4. If you were advising the Saudi government, what would you do if Iranian-backed groups continued attacking your energy infrastructure?

5. If Jordan and Kuwait were repeatedly attacked, how might their relationships with the United States change?

6. If Pakistan successfully brokered another interim agreement, what conditions would you include to prevent the conflict from flaring up again?

7. If energy prices continued to rise because of the conflict, which countries or industries would be most vulnerable?

8. If you were a diplomat attempting to end the war, what concessions would you ask each side to make?

Critical Thinking Questions — Advanced Conditionals

1. If you were the leader of a country hosting US military forces, would you allow those forces to remain if doing so made your country a target? Why or why not?

2. If Iran's attacks on regional infrastructure were intended to pressure Washington into negotiations, could this strategy ultimately backfire? Explain what might happen.

3. If the United States responded to every Iranian attack with a stronger military strike, would that necessarily deter Iran, or could it create a cycle of escalation?

4. If the Strait of Hormuz remained effectively closed, how might the global balance of political and economic power change?

5. If Saudi Arabia wanted both to defend itself militarily and prevent a wider war, what strategy could it pursue?

6. If Iran-backed militias continued attacking Saudi infrastructure while Saudi Arabia called for de-escalation, would Saudi Arabia be justified in continuing military strikes? Under what conditions?

7. If diplomacy succeeded in reopening the Strait of Hormuz but failed to resolve the underlying conflict, would that constitute a meaningful success? Why or why not?

8. If the conflict eventually expanded into a full regional war, which countries would be most likely to become involved, and what might their objectives be?

9. If the global economy became significantly weaker because of prolonged disruption to energy supplies, how might governments change their foreign-policy priorities?

10. If you had to choose between a temporary ceasefire that left the underlying disputes unresolved and continued military pressure aimed at achieving a permanent settlement, which would you choose? What risks would your choice involve?