Conflict Weekly

CWA # 2050
Conflict Weekly
The US-Iran War, Week Five: Widening Conflict, Houthi Involvement, and Trump’s Renewed Threats

Conflict Weekly #326, 03 April 2026

IPRI Team
3 April 2026
Photo Source: BBC, Google Maps

Conflict Weekly Focus Note
The US-Iran War, Week Five:
Widening Conflict, Houthi Involvement, and Trump’s Renewed Threats
Rohini Reenum

In the news
The US-Israeli offensive
Between 27 March and 3 April, the US and Israeli attacks continued on Iran. On 27 March, in a precise overnight strike, the IDF eliminated Alireza Tangsiri, Commander of the IRGC Navy. On 28 March, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu announced that strikes had successfully destroyed 70 per cent of Iran’s steel production capacity, aimed at crippling Iran’s long-term ability to manufacture replacement missiles and drones. On 2 April, the US forces struck Bridge 1B, a vital artery connecting Tehran to Karaj. On 3 April, the US and Israel intensified attacks on Iran, hitting a century-old medical research centre in Tehran, steel plants, and a bridge near the capital, sparking criticism over their targeting of what Iran and many analysts insist are civilian infrastructure.

Iran’s Response
Between 27 March and 3 April, Iran continued to target sites in Israel and infrastructure in the Gulf countries. On 28 March, the Iran-aligned Houthis of Yemen officially entered the war, launching ballistic missile attacks, targeting “sensitive Israeli military sites” in southern Israel. They have also said that “they will continue these attacks until new alliances join Washington and Israel against Iran and its allies, or if the Red Sea is used for 'hostile operations’ against Iran.” On 29 March, Iran formalized its policy of allowing “non-hostile” tankers (primarily bound for China and India) to transit the Strait of Hormuz, provided they pay a transit fee in Chinese Yuan to bypass the dollar system. On 2 April, Iran published a “target list” of major bridges in Kuwait, Jordan, the UAE, and Bahrain. On 3 April, Iran's military claimed to have downed two US jets in the Gulf: an F-15 in the southwest and an A-10 “Warthog” over the Persian Gulf. US officials have confirmed that one crew member was rescued.

International Responses
On 30 March, over 30 countries, including the UK, France, Japan, and Canada, signed a joint statement condemning the closure of the Strait and authorizing preparatory planning for “all defensive means” to reopen the waterway. On 3 April, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer hosted leaders and representatives from 40 countries to explore the possibility of reopening the Strait of Hormuz.

President Trump’s Special Address
On 1 April, US President Donald Trump delivered a speech from the White House wherein he labelled Iran as the “world’s number one state sponsor of terror,” a threat to the US and the world, claimed to have won the war with Iran, and claimed that the war would wrap up soon.  He said: “We are systematically dismantling the regime’s ability to threaten America or project power outside of their borders.” He also said: “We are gonna finish the job. We are getting very close.” On the negotiations, he warned Iran: “If there is no deal, we are going to hit each and every one of their electric generating plants very hard and probably simultaneously.”

On 1 April, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, in an open letter addressed to the US public and shared by Iran’s state-run broadcaster PressTV, questioned whether President Donald Trump’s “America First” policy is “truly among the priorities of the US government today.” He also asserted that Iran was not against the American people and urged them to question “Exactly which of the American people’s interests are truly being served by this war?”

Issues at Large
First, the continuing attacks. Despite announcements of backchannel negotiations by the US, the US-Israeli attacks on Iran have continued. Earlier, Trump had announced a ten-day pause. On the other hand, Tehran has denied any direct talks with the US and continued to target Israel, infrastructure in the Gulf countries, and a selective blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. The reluctance of the Gulf countries, which have borne the brunt of Tehran’s attacks, to retaliate has also likely bolstered Tehran’s continued attacks.

Second, the Houthis' entry into the war expanded the conflict’s geography. With this, a fourth front of the war has opened, giving the Houthis the ability to target ships in the Red Sea. There are fears that the war is likely to expand further if the Houthis choose to exercise that option. This will be a significant escalation with worldwide economic ramifications and may lead other countries with economic stakes to join the war. The Houthis' statement also reveals that their entry was a calculated move and a strategic response to the Coalition of the Willing, likely to ease the mounting pressure on Tehran. The Houthis have also expressed solidarity with other Iran-backed groups – Hezbollah. This means that their attacks will continue even if there is a ceasefire between the US and Iran, as Israel has indicated it will continue its attacks against Hezbollah.

Third, President Trump’s conflicting statements. His latest address early this week was a repetition of what he has been saying on his Truth Social platform and in other press briefings. The speech was also full of conflicting statements on the Iran war, in which he said the war has already been won, followed by an assertion that it should continue and that it will wrap up soon. Interestingly, his speech looked more like an argument for launching the Iran war, a move that is facing increased scrutiny in the US.

In Perspective
The war seems to have transformed from a precise decapitation campaign to a war of attrition, driven largely by Tehran’s defiance and the US’s inability to achieve its stated war objectives, even though President Trump has constantly claimed otherwise.

The entry of the Houthis and the formation of the Coalition of the Willing have increased fears that the War will metastasize into a global conflict with faultlines emerging across hemispheres, with significant ramifications for the world economy, which is already reeling under the Hormuz blockade. All eyes are now on President Trump’s 6 April deadline, which will define the course of the war.

 


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