The strikes against nuclear sites represent the most significant escalation since the conflict began, targeting infrastructure that Iran has spent decades building and defending. Rubio's comments at the G7 foreign ministers meeting in France projected confidence, telling reporters: "When we are done with them here in the next couple weeks, they will be weaker than they've been in recent history."

Simultaneously, Israel expanded its operations beyond Iran proper, with massive airstrikes hitting Beirut's southern suburbs as part of its ongoing campaign against Hezbollah. Smoke rose over the Lebanese capital's skyline, underscoring how the conflict has spread across the region.

The broader strategic picture is also shifting. France and Britain are leading planning to have European warships escort commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz once hostilities end, with officials saying preparations are further along than publicly revealed. The strait remains the world's most critical oil shipping chokepoint.

Meanwhile, the economic fallout continues to mount. Fertilizer prices are climbing sharply due to Middle East disruptions, threatening global food supplies. The agricultural sector's dependence on shipping routes through the conflict zone has created a dangerous bottleneck that could take months to unwind even after fighting stops.