US President Donald Trump declared on Friday that only an 'unconditional surrender' from Tehran would end the rapidly escalating war in the Middle East, as global oil prices skyrocketed and the humanitarian toll reached devastating levels.

Speaking on his Truth Social platform, the President rejected calls for fresh diplomatic talks, stating there would be no deal unless Iran capitulates entirely.

This hardline stance was echoed by White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, who clarified that the military operation would continue until the President determines Iran no longer poses a threat and its leadership is replaced by someone "acceptable" to Washington.

This follows the death of Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in strikes last weekend.

The first week of the US-Israeli joint campaign has seen a massive scale of destruction, with US Central Command reporting that over 3,000 targets—including command centers, missile sites, and naval assets—have been hit across Iran.

The conflict has severely disrupted global energy markets, as the effective blockade of the Strait of Hormuz sent Brent North Sea crude surging to USD92.69 per barrel, a nearly 30 percent increase within a single week.

While the US mourns the loss of six service members, the regional casualty count continues to climb. Iranian health officials report 926 deaths from the bombardments, while in Lebanon, Israeli strikes on Hezbollah strongholds and eastern districts have killed at least 217 people, forcing 300,000 to flee their homes.

The violence has spilled over into neighboring Gulf states and Iraq, with Iran launching retaliatory drone and missile attacks. On Friday, Qatar reported intercepting nine of ten drones, while Saudi Arabia downed a cruise missile.

In Iraq, explosions rocked a Baghdad airport complex and a hotel in Erbil, following US embassy warnings of Iranian-backed militant activity. The civilian toll across the Gulf has reached 13, including the tragic death of an 11-year-old girl in Kuwait.

International pressure for a ceasefire is mounting, with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warning of a situation spiraling out of control and Russian President Vladimir Putin calling for an immediate end to hostilities during a phone call with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian.

Despite these appeals and the "unacceptable" targeting of UN peacekeepers in southern Lebanon, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth warned that strikes are set to "surge dramatically" as the coalition moves to crush the current Iranian administration.

Source: AFP