TEMPO.CO, Jakarta – Black smoke rises over the Persian Gulf as gas fields, power plants, civilian infrastructure, and military facilities across the region are under attack from Iran. Its government has said it will continue to respond in kind to US-Israeli attacks on military, civilian and energy-producing targets within its territory—even though US President Donald Trump has more than once declared that Iran has been militarily defeated.
As the war drags on into a fourth week, political pressure is building on Washington. Rising energy prices are fueling inflation and economic uncertainty worldwide. Nevertheless, the US and Israel are continuing their joint bombing…