preparing the rules for peace while the shooting continued
In the early days of April 2026, the ancient contest between nations has found new and terrible expression along the Persian Gulf, where Iran and Israel exchange missiles while the world's oil supply hangs in the balance. The United States, already drawn into active warfare, faces its own internal fractures as military leadership shifts mid-conflict. Humanity watches a familiar pattern unfold — the machinery of war advancing while diplomats quietly draft the rules for a peace no one has yet secured.
- Iran has threatened 'crushing' retaliation against both the U.S. and Israel, launching missiles toward Tel Aviv after President Trump vowed to bomb Iran 'back to the Stone Ages' — the rhetoric of annihilation now driving operational decisions.
- Iran's closure of the Strait of Hormuz — through which roughly a third of the world's seaborne oil flows — is already convulsing global energy markets and sending economic shockwaves far beyond the immediate theater of war.
- In a jarring moment of internal disruption, the Pentagon moved to remove the Army's top uniformed officer mid-conflict, offering no explanation while U.S. forces remained actively engaged in bombing operations.
- Israel's air defense systems intercepted Iranian missiles on Friday morning, issuing a matter-of-fact operational update that belied the gravity of the moment — this exchange of volleys has become the conflict's grim new rhythm.
- The UN Security Council is set to vote Friday on a Bahrain-sponsored resolution authorizing strictly defensive measures to protect international navigation through the Strait of Hormuz — a carefully limited gesture toward order amid chaos.
- Even as the war continues, Iran is quietly drafting a maritime protocol with Oman to govern post-war traffic through Hormuz — a surreal act of planning for peace while the bombs are still falling.
On Thursday, April 2, the Pentagon announced that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth had asked the Army's top uniformed officer, General Randy George, to step down — no explanation offered — even as the United States remained locked in active warfare with Iran. The timing was jarring: a leadership upheaval at the summit of military command while the conflict was still unfolding.
Iran, meanwhile, was preparing for a future it assumed would eventually come. Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi told Russian state media that Tehran was nearly finished drafting a maritime protocol with Oman to govern ship movements through the Strait of Hormuz once the war ended. It was a strange kind of planning — writing the rules for peace while the shooting continued.
Peace, however, seemed far off. Iran threatened 'crushing' attacks against both the United States and Israel, launching missiles toward Tel Aviv after President Trump declared he would bomb Iran 'back to the Stone Ages.' The bombing campaign had been underway since late February, with U.S. and Israeli forces striking regional infrastructure. Iran's closure of the Strait of Hormuz — through which roughly a third of the world's seaborne oil passes — was already sending shocks through global energy markets.
On Friday morning, the UN Security Council was set to vote on a Bahrain-sponsored resolution authorizing defensive measures — explicitly not offensive ones — to secure international navigation through the Strait. It was a limited, carefully worded proposal, but it represented the international community's attempt to protect commerce in a waterway that had become a flashpoint.
That same morning, Israel's military reported detecting Iranian missiles launched toward its territory and confirmed its air defense systems were operating to intercept them. The statement was clinical and routine in tone — missiles identified, defenses activated, no immediate casualties reported. But nothing about it was routine. This was the conflict's new rhythm: volleys and intercepts, apocalyptic rhetoric and diplomatic protocols, the machinery of war grinding forward while the rules for an unborn peace were quietly being written.
The machinery of conflict was grinding forward on multiple fronts. On Thursday, April 2, the Pentagon announced that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth had asked the Army's top uniformed officer, General Randy George, to step down—no explanation offered, no context provided—even as the United States remained locked in active warfare with Iran. The timing was stark: a leadership upheaval at the highest levels of military command while bombs were still falling.
Meanwhile, Iran was preparing for a future it assumed would eventually arrive. Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi told Russian state media that Tehran was drafting a protocol with Oman to govern maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz once the current war ended. The protocol would establish basic rules for ship movements through one of the world's most critical oil corridors. Gharibabadi said the document was nearly complete and that negotiations with Oman would begin as soon as the internal drafting was finished. It was a strange kind of planning—preparing the rules for peace while the shooting continued.
But peace seemed distant. On Thursday, Iran threatened what it called "crushing" attacks against both the United States and Israel, launching missiles toward Tel Aviv in response to President Trump's declaration that he would bomb Iran "back to the Stone Ages." The rhetoric had become apocalyptic. The bombing campaign itself had been underway since late February, with U.S. and Israeli forces striking at regional infrastructure. Iran's closure of the Strait of Hormuz—that vital waterway through which roughly a third of the world's seaborne oil passes—was already roiling global energy markets and sending shocks through economies worldwide.
On Friday morning, April 3, the UN Security Council was scheduled to vote at 11 a.m. Eastern time on a Bahrain-sponsored resolution. The measure would authorize defensive measures—explicitly not offensive ones—to secure international navigation through the Strait of Hormuz. It was a limited proposal, carefully worded to avoid escalation, but it represented an attempt by the international community to at least protect commerce in a waterway that had become a flashpoint.
That same Friday, Israel's military reported that it had detected missiles launched from Iran toward Israeli territory and that its air defense systems were operating to intercept them. The statement was matter-of-fact: missiles identified, defenses activated, no immediate reports of casualties or damage. It read like a routine operational update, but it was anything but routine. This was the rhythm of the conflict now—volleys of missiles, defensive responses, the constant threat of escalation, and the machinery of war grinding on while diplomats drafted protocols for a peace that had not yet arrived.
Citas Notables
We are currently finalising the drafting of this protocol and, once it has been finalised internally, we will undoubtedly begin negotiations with the Omani side in order to reach a joint protocol.— Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi, speaking to Russian state media
La Conversación del Hearth Otra perspectiva de la historia
Why would the Pentagon ask the Army's top officer to resign right now, in the middle of an active war?
The source doesn't say. That's the unsettling part. It happened, and no reason was given. You're left to wonder if it's a purge, a disagreement over strategy, or something else entirely. But the timing—while missiles are flying—makes it feel significant.
Iran is planning a maritime protocol with Oman for after the war ends. Does that suggest they think they'll lose?
Not necessarily. It could mean they're being pragmatic—assuming this will eventually end and wanting to shape what comes next. Or it could be a signal to other countries that Iran is thinking about normalcy, about rules and order, even while it's threatening crushing attacks. It's a strange duality.
The Strait of Hormuz is closed. How bad is that for the global economy?
It's severe. That waterway moves roughly a third of the world's seaborne oil. When it's blocked, energy prices spike, supply chains fracture, and every economy that depends on that oil feels the shock immediately. It's not just a regional problem anymore.
What does the UN resolution actually do?
It authorizes defensive measures only—not offensive ones. So countries can protect ships passing through the strait, but they can't use it as cover to attack Iran. It's a narrow attempt to keep commerce flowing while the war continues around it.
And Israel's air defenses are working?
So far, yes. They're intercepting the missiles Iran is firing. But each volley, each interception, is another cycle of escalation. The fact that there are no reported casualties doesn't mean the danger is diminishing. It just means the defenses are holding—for now.