Markets Crashed, Oil Spiked, Crypto Tanked—All Because Trump Intervened. Now He Pledges for Peace?

I think we have all been aware and have been watching from our screens helplessly, as all of these innocent lives are being lost. For those who aren’t caught up, since late 2024, with the assassinations of Iran’s top military leaders, the murder of dozens of citizens and scientists, and with hundreds more injured, the tensions have risen between the two countries: Israel and Iran. With an obvious devastating blow to Iran’s nuclear and military command, Iran has the obvious right to react back and declared Iran’s October 2024 missile barrage (with around 200 missiles), which is also called Operation True Promise II.

Image from Stimson

The war was still prevalent for a while, but no new news came until the recent date, 13th June 2025. The following morning, it seemed it would be the darkest time for Iran since they were being closed in from all directions. On top of that, the United States had just declared that they were officially “in” with working with Israel in the war. Following this news, Israel had sent a devastating military strike (with 400 missiles and hundreds of drones), coded as Operation Rising Lion, that obliterated Iran’s most critical nuclear facilities in minutes. Not expecting to be quiet, Iran had fired back with their own 100 aerial drones launched directly into Israel’s cutting territory. However, Israel’s cutting-edge defense military system had saved them from any significant damage, but this wasn’t the end. And with that, President Trump had made a bold move and applauded Israel’s strike, and stated that the United States would take further action if Iran threatened them in any way. Hilariously, within hours, Iran had declared a full-scale military escalation on the US’s bases across the Middle East.

Not only did this cause an upset amongst Donald Trump and the US, but also the whole world. It had initiated a global panic, which had caused markets to react in fear—oil prices skyrocketed by 12% overnight, crypto took a plunge, stock markets took a nosedive, $220 billion was lost overnight, and the talk of WW3 is no longer a fantasy. I couldn’t help but wonder… was this war just a global version of a teenage friend group falling apart? It always starts with two friends—Israel and Iran—fighting. Everyone else pretends to stay neutral, not wanting to get in the middle of the drama. But secretly, they're picking sides, already whispering behind each other's backs about whose side they’re on. Eventually, one friend—say, the United States—openly picks a side. And just like that, the entire balance tips. The friend being ganged up on lashes out louder, harder, and more chaotically. The rest of the group? Caught between loyalty and self-preservation, all desperately trying to keep the peace while watching it unravel in real time. It may even be a global order that may never be the same again.

Image from ABC News

Everybody is praying for peace, and everybody, including countries like China, Russia, and European allies, is urging a de-escalation of the situation. Despite everybody urging for this not to go any further, today’s date, 19th June 2025, Iran had launched another attack—which was coded Operation True Promise III—on Israel’s capital, Tehran, and Arak (one of Israel’s most sensitive nuclear facilities and also a heavy-water nuclear reactor). This was a clear strategy and message from Iran, especially since the broken deal of the 2015 Iran Nuclear Deal (JCPOA). Ever since then, Iran has been reading red flags that it has resumed plutonium-related activities there. So, to avoid any nuclear bomb creation with their plutonium, this was a clear message that atomic escalation was a red line not to cross.

Now, on top of the fact that the United States is that ONE friend who wants to stir up drama, they’re a hypocritical one as well when Donald Trump tweeted: “The U.S. had nothing to do with the attack on Iran, tonight… However, we can easily get a deal done between Iran and Israel, and end this bloody conflict!!!” Now, is this guy being for real? This is when your friend tells you the drama, and you’re just shocked. You’re shocked at the thought of how one person can think everything can be taken back when suddenly switching to the neutral side as if they had always been there in the first place. I bet this is the general reaction of the world reacting behind their screens and the other world leaders watching from underground bunkers. If not, they are waiting for war to happen; diplomats are running behind the scenes, awaiting the United States’ response. Everybody knows one blow, strike, and ANYTHING will broaden a whole generational conflict. So naturally, everybody expected the U.S. to react logically, with peace and neutrality, or illogically, with fire and strikes. In contrast, the U.S. did not respond in any expected way. Instead, President Trump reaffirmed his commitment to “avoiding conflict,” while insisting that any potential strike wouldn’t escalate the war, but instead, serve as a means to end it. Furthermore, reiterating that they’re open to the option of launching a strike, but that “doesn’t mean they’re going to do it at all” (CNN).

Personally, this sounds like someone trying to convince me that poking the bear won’t provoke it or make it act out. It’s one of those key reminders that politics are really just humans reacting selfishly, bringing out their inner teenagers in global conflicts. And you know why they get away with acting so immature? Because they have the power to do so. Just like a “fabulous” model can have the most controversial opinions and be the biggest bully, but still be wanted everywhere, because their gorgeous face is their power.