Frustrated Trump more seriously thinking of restarting combat operations in Iran: sources

US President Donald Trump is increasingly considering resuming major combat operations in Iran, according to aides, after dismissing Iran’s latest counterproposal as insufficient on nuclear issues. Trump described the current ceasefire as 'on life support,' signaling a potential breakdown in negotiations. A decision on escalation may be delayed until after his upcoming trip to China, though an Iranian adviser warned Trump against misinterpreting the current pause in fighting as a victory. Separately, an Israeli airstrike on a house in Kfardounine, southern Lebanon, killed six people and injured seven on Monday night, state media reported. The attack occurred despite a ceasefire agreement between Lebanon and Israel, which both sides have accused of violating. Since March 2, Israeli attacks have resulted in 2,869 deaths and 8,730 injuries in Lebanon, according to the Lebanese Health Ministry. The US Department of Energy announced the release of 53.3 million barrels of oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) to ease global energy shortages caused by Iran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical waterway transporting 20% of the world’s oil and gas. The move is part of a broader US-led effort to inject 172 million barrels into global markets, with crude prices rising approximately 45% since the conflict began. Around 10-12 million barrels of oil remain blocked daily due to the crisis, analysts estimate. The SPR, the world’s largest emergency oil reserve, has been deployed to counter inflationary pressures and stabilize prices amid the conflict. While some producers like Saudi Arabia and the UAE have rerouted exports, global oil consumption remains strained at around 103 million barrels per day. The US and its allies continue coordinating to mitigate economic fallout from the war, though tensions in the region persist.