The Iran war marks its 100th day on Sunday. Up to 2,211 people have been killed, more than 22,000 injured and more than 3.9 million displaced. Iran has suffered extensive infrastructural damage and U.S. and Israeli attacks destabilized its reeling economy. Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz, its toll system has given control of the waterway to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard. China buys 90 percent of Iran's crude oil.
The war between Iran and Israel and the U.S. has been an economic catastrophe for Iranians. Iran might end up experiencing a double-digit economic contraction this year. Iranās inflation is now near 85 percent. For food products, the inflation rate is 266 percent, for meat and chicken, 169 percent and for eggs and dairy products, 161 percent.
The USA and Iran have fired heavily at each other for the second night in a row, despite the ceasefire that has been in effect for two months. Iran's military blocked the Strait of Hormuz and counterattacked targets in the Gulf states of Bahrain and Kuwait. Two ships were said to have been shot at. US regional command Centcom called this claim false. US military later stopped its repeated attacks.
Iran is preparing for the transition from wartime unity to a fractious peace marked by hyperinflation, a 10% contraction in the economy, power cuts and calls for a triumphalist government to end its unprecedented hunting down of dissent. The president, Masoud Pezeshkian, has been warning of hard times ahead and the need to maintain social cohesion.
Lebanon's President Joseph Aoun has called on Iran not to interfere in his country. Iran is using Lebanon as a bargaining chip in their negotiations with the United States. Tehran insists the fighting in Lebanon and the Gulf region are linked. Hezbollah must understand that there is no other way than to sit down at the table and talk.
One hundred days into the US-Israeli war on Iran, the conflict has settled into a stalemate. Pakistan-brokered ceasefire announced on April 8 has done little to stop the bloodshed. The Strait of Hormuz remains largely closed to maritime traffic, peace talks hover near collapse, and attacks persist across multiple front lines. Israel killed at least 3,593 people in Lebanon and 3,468 people in Iran.
Since Sunday evening, Iran had launched about 30 missiles at Israel in response to deadly Israeli strikes on Beirutās southern suburbs. On Monday, Iran announced it was ceasing its strikes on Israel. On the ground, Iranians grappled with the possibility of renewed fighting.
"Pessimistic" predicts that the Middle East war could push tens of millions more people into the trouble spots. "The negative scenario is unfortunately materialising", Jean-Martin Bauer, the director of WFP's food and security analysis service, warned AFP.
There have been 61 days of relative peace in the first 100 days of the Iran war. The future of Iran's nuclear program is still in limbo and a lasting peace is still elusive. The U.S. and Israel exchanged fire with Iran and its proxies for 39 days from February 28 to April 7, while June 7 is the 56th day of the naval blockade against Iranian ports, including in the Strait of Hormuz. Commodity prices spiked overnight. The average price of regular gasoline hit $4.35 per gallon in May in the United States. California pays the most for gas, while Indiana pays the least.