Amid rapidly escalating tensions in the Middle East, the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) issued a security warning to Iranian civilians on Sunday, urging them to stay indoors as military operations intensify in the region.Central Command said in a statement released on X that Iranian forces launched drones and ballistic missiles from densely populated civilian areas, putting local residents at risk.U.S. officials claim that the Iranian government has been conducting military operations in crowded neighborhoods in cities such as Dezful, Isfahan and Shiraz.
The U.S. military said sites used for military purposes could lose their protected status under international law and could become legitimate military targets.“This dangerous decision endangers the lives of all Iranian civilians because sites used for military purposes lose their protected status and may become legitimate military targets under international law,” the command said.Central Command urged Iranian civilians to stay home while the operation continued, adding that the US military took “all feasible precautions to minimize harm to civilians” but could not guarantee safety near facilities used for military activities.
Tensions rise in the Middle East
The warning comes as the widening regional conflict between Israel, the United States and Iran enters its second week. The campaign began with coordinated U.S. and Israeli air strikes on February 28 and has since triggered a wave of retaliatory attacks across the Middle East.Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian warned on Sunday that Tehran could expand attacks on U.S. targets across the region in response to continued attacks. Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have vowed to continue military action.The conflict has spread beyond Iran and Israel. Bahrain blamed Iran for an attack on a desalination plant on Sunday, raising concerns that critical civilian infrastructure may increasingly be targeted. The Israeli attack also hit an oil facility in Tehran, sending smoke billowing across parts of the capital, while attacks in Lebanon continued.According to officials, the conflict has so far killed at least 1,230 people in Iran, 397 in Lebanon, and 11 in Israel. Six US soldiers were also reportedly killed.The fighting has roiled global markets, disrupted air travel and severely crippled Iran’s military infrastructure after the United States and Israel launched thousands of airstrikes.
Oil prices soar
Meanwhile, rising geopolitical tensions have pushed up energy prices. Brent crude surged to $91.84 a barrel, while West Texas Intermediate crude climbed to $89.62 a barrel. Since the conflict escalated, Brent crude oil prices have now risen more than 24% and WTI prices have risen about 32%, raising new concerns about global inflation.Earlier, Trump claimed that Iran was being “destroyed ahead of schedule,” saying the country had effectively lost its air force and air defense capabilities.However, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told NBC News that Tehran has no intention of negotiating and is preparing for a possible ground invasion if the conflict intensifies.
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