India, March 24 -- The widening war in the Middle East entered a dangerous new phase this week as Iran warned that Israeli strikes on its assets in the Caspian Sea could ignite a broader regional conflict, while tensions around the Strait of Hormuz pushed global energy markets and maritime security to the brink.

The warning from Iran's Foreign Ministry followed what Israeli officials described as unprecedented operations targeting Iranian naval capabilities in the Caspian Sea. According to reports that the Israeli military carried out strikes in the Caspian Sea, the attacks hit multiple naval assets, including missile boats, shipyards, and command infrastructure, marking a dramatic expansion of the war into a previously untouched theate...