Saudi Arabia reported on Tuesday that the United States embassy in Riyadh was struck by two drones, as tensions in the U.S’ war against Iran continue to escalate.
President Donald Trump, speaking at his first public event since the conflict erupted, said the fighting is projected to last four to five weeks, but cautioned it could go on “far longer than that.”
Markets reacted swiftly to the instability, with oil prices surging amid concerns over potential supply disruptions.
Gold, a traditional safe haven for investors during crises, also climbed, while U.S. futures, European stocks, and Asian equities all fell.
According to Iranian media cited by Reuters, the commander of the Revolutionary Guards said the Strait of Hormuz was closed and warned that Iran will set any ship attempting to pass on fire.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth emphasized that Trump “has all the latitude in the world” in determining how long the war will last.
Meanwhile, U.S. Marines reportedly fired on demonstrators who stormed the U.S. consulate in Karachi, Pakistan, over the weekend, Reuters reported, citing two U.S. officials.
The sources said it was unclear whether the rounds struck or killed anyone, or whether shots were fired by other protective personnel such as private security or local police.
The protests followed the death of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in joint U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran.
The U.S. Embassy in Islamabad said on Monday that it was monitoring reports of ongoing demonstrations at its missions in Pakistan, including the capital, its consulates in Karachi and Lahore, and the Consulate-General in Peshawar.
