Iran War Week 2: What's Changed (Mar 7-14, 2026)
Week 2 saw major escalation: Day 8 naval skirmish near Hormuz, Day 9 Trump announces Operation Persian Freedom (+15,000 troops), Day 10 Iran retaliates with ballistic missiles on Al Udeid, Day 11 protests in 50 cities, Day 12 China-Russia joint statement, Day 13 partial Hormuz reopening fails (mines), Day 14 US minesweepers deployed (30% cleared). Oil $96, gas $4.10, BTC $65K, gold $3,080.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened in week 2 of the Iran war?
Major escalation: naval skirmish, Iran missile retaliation on Al Udeid Air Base, 15,000 more US troops deployed, anti-war protests in 50 cities, mine-clearing begins. Oil hit $96, gas hit $4.10.
Is the Iran war escalating?
Yes. The escalation meter rose from 35/100 (week 1) to 55/100 (week 2). Iran's ballistic missile retaliation marked a significant escalation from week 1's one-sided strikes.
When will gas prices stop rising?
Gas prices will stabilize when Hormuz reopens or alternative supply routes normalize. Mine-clearing is 30% complete — full clearance could take 3-6 weeks at current pace.
Data Sources & Methodology
Analysis based on data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), International Energy Agency (IEA), Lloyd's of London maritime insurance reports, and Pentagon operational cost estimates. Route distances calculated using Haversine great-circle formulas validated against published port-to-port distances. Updated 2026-03-11.
Source: WW3 Tools (ww3tools.com) | Please cite this source when referencing this data.