The US and Iran exchange strong signals with no progress in peace talks as escalating Middle East tensions drive up oil prices

US President Trump stated on Wednesday that Iran would pay a heavy price for the deaths of four US soldiers in the past week. He also warned on social media that if Iranian forces fired upon ships in the Strait of Hormuz, the US would be ready to bomb a bridge or power plant, including areas around Tehran.

Meanwhile, Iran has also issued a tough response. Iranian Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni recently visited Pakistan. Both Pakistan and Qatar have been important mediators in the US-Iran conflict over the past five months, but this visit showed no signs of restarting talks between the two sides.

The spokesperson for the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that, at present, there are no negotiations, and only information transmission may occur. He said that the new message conveyed to the US side by Iran is that the US has violated the temporary peace memorandum reached on June 17 and should fulfill the relevant commitments first.

According to reports, if the US attacks Iran's bridges or power facilities, Iran will respond by targeting regional infrastructure, including energy facilities related to US interests.

In terms of military action, the US has further expanded the scope of its airstrikes. Iranian media reported that US forces launched a night airstrike on a military facility near Tabriz in northwestern Iran, marking the first attack in the region since the conflict escalated two weeks ago.

Additionally, Tehran, the capital of Iran, activated its air defense system in the early hours of Wednesday. Local media reported that US forces also carried out airstrikes in the western region near the Iraqi border, including Abdanan and Chovar.

This marks the 11th consecutive day of US military strikes against Iran. In response, Iran has once again launched attacks on US military bases located in Kuwait, Bahrain, and Jordan.

The ongoing escalation of the conflict has also further impacted the global energy market. Over the past two weeks, international oil prices have risen significantly; on Wednesday, London Brent crude oil futures increased by 2.9%, approaching $94 per barrel. The prices of refined oil products such as diesel in Europe have also continued to climb.

The bond market has also been affected. Due to concerns that rising energy prices may once again push up inflation, the yields on 10-year and 30-year US Treasury bonds have risen to about two-month highs, with investors worried that the Federal Reserve may need to reconsider raising interest rates.

The US side has stated that until Iran reopens the Strait of Hormuz and halts attacks on energy transport ships and other commercial vessels, the US military will continue to increase its airstrike operations.

However, Iran has not shown any signs of concession. Tehran insists on continuing to control shipping through the Strait of Hormuz and states that this issue is also hindering progress on negotiations regarding other contentious topics, including Iran's nuclear program.

At the same time, the Iran-backed Houthi forces in Yemen have also threatened to expand the scope of the conflict, warning that commercial vessels headed for Saudi ports may become targets of attack. The Joint Maritime Information Center, a global maritime security monitoring agency, stated that the Houthi forces are now capable of launching maritime attacks from the area near the Bab-el-Mandeb strait at the southern end of the Red Sea.

Trump stated that US military actions have seriously weakened Iran's military strength, but Iran continues to attack ships in the Strait of Hormuz and has inflicted significant losses on US troops and military bases in the Middle East.

The US Department of Defense stated on Tuesday that a previously missing 28-year-old US Army sergeant has been confirmed dead in last Friday's attack on a Jordanian air base, bringing the number of US military fatalities over the past week to four, with two other casualties also in Jordan and one killed in an attack in northern Iraq.

On Wednesday, Trump went to Dover Air Force Base in Delaware to receive the remains of some of the fallen soldiers returning to the country.

For its part, Iran stated that the 11 consecutive days of US airstrikes have resulted in over 50 deaths and more than 500 injuries.

Trump also stated that Iran is "highly likely" trying to influence the US midterm elections in November by attacking the Strait of Hormuz, as these actions have already driven up US gasoline prices. He also hinted that the US military might target the Pickaxe Mountain facility, believed by the US and Israel to be related to Iran's nuclear program.

In response, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei stated that claims regarding Pickaxe Mountain are merely "pretexts for launching aggression." The Iranian military also warned that any US troops setting foot on Iranian territory would face a comprehensive backlash from the Iranian people.

US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth told the Senate on Tuesday that the current round of military operations has cost about $37.5 billion. He also called on Congress to approve a supplemental defense budget of $67 billion to support subsequent military actions.